Cognizant mobilizes over INR 12 crore to provide critical care, vaccinations for differently abled and access to digital learning during the pandemic  

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Dr. C N Ashwath Narayan today dedicated the 100-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH), Bengaluru, funded by Cognizant Foundation, the CSR arm of IT services major, to COVID-19 affected infants and children.

The PICU facility at IGICH expanded from 30 to 100 beds at a cost of INR 1.32 crores was undertaken in response to the dire need for providing lifesaving care to infants and children affected by COVID-19. It is equipped with critical medical equipment including PICU cots, oxygenated beds, ventilators, high flow nasal cannula machines and multipara monitors, and operationalized with support from People to People Health Foundation.

The initiative is a part of Cognizant Operation C3, the company’s COVID-19 rapid response program to combat the pandemic, aimed at protecting the health and safety of its associates, their families, and supporting vulnerable communities.

Speaking at the virtual meet, Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwath Narayan said: “The government of Karnataka is committed to its fight against the pandemic, and we thank Cognizant for its continued support in setting up critical care facilities for marginalized communities in India and across Karnataka. The 100-bed PICU facility will ramp up the medical infrastructure at IGICH, Bengaluru, and enable quality healthcare accessible and affordable for COVID-infected infants and children, given the impending third wave predictions in medical circles.”

Cognizant India Chairman & MD and Chairman Cognizant Foundation Rajesh Nambiar said: “Protecting our people, their families and communities has been a top priority. We have delivered immediate relief across India through the Cognizant Foundation and our longstanding partners to meet the demands of the crisis and help save lives. The new 100-bed COVID-19 pediatric ward in Karnataka will ensure the youngest and most vulnerable receive timely care and attention. We have also operationalized several COVID-19 response initiatives in the state for differently abled persons, displaced people, front-line warriors and underserved students to help them mitigate the impact of the pandemic.”

IGICH Director Dr. Sanjay KS said: “The pandemic has resulted in loss of many lives and livelihoods. During the anticipated third wave, IGICH is expected to lead the response to save lives of children. We thank Cognizant Foundation and its partner People to People Health Foundation for responding to this call for help and strengthening the pediatric COVID care unit.”

As part of Cognizant’s Operation C3 initiatives in Karnataka, the Foundation plans to vaccinate 4,000 differently abled persons and their 4,000 caregivers in Bengaluru’s rural districts. It has provided over 76,000 PPE kits and 60 units of medical equipment, and 750 digital devices to nine state institutions, including four government hospitals, two police departments, and two not-for-profit hospitals. More than 12,750 grocery kits and about 46,000 meals have been distributed to people in need around the state.

To help differently abled persons and students overcome barriers, the Foundation has supported seven projects focused on skilling persons with disabilities and digital and STEM learning, including a project worth INR 70.5 lakh for skill development training of 600 differently abled persons in Devanahalli and Bengaluru, and donated INR 76.6 lakh towards STEM and digital training of 30 government schoolteachers in Bengaluru.

Additionally, Cognizant through its Outreach program has adopted nine colleges in Bengaluru, Mangaluru and Mysuru, donated 9000+ desktops with another 3,000+ in pipeline to help students pursue their education without barriers during the pandemic and provided tuition fee aid worth INR 52 lakh for over 160 underprivileged students.

Across India, Cognizant Foundation has mobilized 1,000 oxygenated beds, ventilators and vaccination through INR 60 crore in COVID-19 relief funding.