Direct Relief Expands Infectious Disease Frontlines in Maharashtra, Promising Vital Medical Center

Aurangabad Medical Center- In a significant stride toward bolstering infectious disease management, Direct Relief, a globally renowned humanitarian organization headquartered in Santa Barbara, USA, has unveiled plans to establish specialized infectious disease departments in two charitable hospitals in Maharashtra—Hedgewar Hospital in Aurangabad and Vivekananda Hospital in Latur.

This pivotal initiative aims to revolutionize the diagnosis, treatment, and decoding of highly infectious and emerging pathogens within a remarkably swift timeline of just one month. The strategic collaboration involves an intensive knowledge transfer program where experts from the esteemed Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital (DMH) in the city will impart crucial training to staff members at these newly designated infectious disease centers.

This strategic expansion follows Direct Relief’s groundbreaking financial infusion of $2.5 million into DMH last year, marking the establishment of a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence in Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine.

Presently, the diagnosis and treatment of highly contagious diseases like Ebola, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), Nipah, Zika, and other emergent global threats primarily reside within research institutions like the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Delhi. However, the lack of high-end diagnostics in private hospitals has been a notable gap in the healthcare infrastructure.

Gordon Willcock, the Deputy Director of Emergency Response at Direct Relief, emphasized the acquisition of cutting-edge diagnostic machinery for Hedgewar Hospital in Aurangabad and Vivekananda Hospital in Latur. Willcock highlighted the pivotal role of DMH experts in guiding and empowering the staff at these institutions, leveraging their benchmark excellence in the field.

Dr. Anant Pandhare, Medical Director of Hedgewar Hospital, underscored the significance of this move in providing a high-end infectious diseases facility to the Marathwada and Khandesh regions—a region previously lacking such dedicated medical centers. He emphasized the critical role these facilities play in controlling and mitigating epidemics, marking a crucial step towards bolstering the healthcare infrastructure in these areas.

Direct Relief’s proactive approach in expanding infectious disease capabilities signifies a transformative leap in healthcare access, promising advanced diagnostic and treatment avenues for highly infectious diseases, thus paving the way for a more resilient and prepared healthcare centers in Maharashtra.

Join our Whats App Channel

Check related post

Subscribe to Notifications