Coimbatore COVID Aid

A student-run initiative based in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, that seeks to undertake COVID relief and aid operations in and around the district.

Our Story

The COVID pandemic has ravaged India over the last year and shows no signs of slowing down. It has left us all in disarray, with people unable to access essential resources - oxygen, medication, critical care - or worse, uninformed about where to start looking.

On May 9 2021, Tavissi Jain - the driving force behind our group - started Coimbatore COVID Aid – which aimed at directing the citizens of Coimbatore and neighbouring cities to quintessential resources. Our team has over 50 volunteers who are students from universities across the country. We have been working tirelessly to keep up with the evolving situation under COVID and carry out essential interventions. We have raised over 9 Lakh Rupees and have helped 2000+ people access essential COVID resources.

While serving as the Oxygen Support coordinator at the Miranda House Help Desk in Delhi, I saw my home city - Coimbatore, succumb to the second wave. I started Coimbatore COVID Aid because I realised that I had some knowledge which I did not want to sit on. I wanted to share this crucial information with as many people as possible.

- Tavissi Jain, Founder of CCA

Current Projects

The Vaccination Camp

“In order to reduce the ferocity of the third wave, we’re identifying and targeting communities that have limited access to vaccines and accelerate the process of India’s vaccination efforts”

- Kathiresan, Founder of COODU

Coimbatore COVID Aid in collaboration with COODU, a Coimbatore-based NGO successfully organized a vaccination camp on July 6, 2021, under the support & guidance of the District Administration through the Department of Health Services and Family Welfare, and Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation, Coimbatore.

260 people from marginalized sections of Koundampalayam, aged 18 and above, were given first doses of the Covishield vaccine. KGM Hospitals, a private hospital based in Coimbatore, provided on-site medical support through nurses and a doctor for the duration of the camp.

The beneficiaries were pre-registered with their Aadhaar and pre-screened for underlying health issues before immunization.

Each beneficiary’s sugar levels and BP levels were also checked. Post-vaccination, they received a care kit containing surgical masks, paracetamol tablets, a pack of biscuits and an information flyer about the dos and don’ts after getting the vaccine.

“Normally pre-screening of medical conditions of the beneficiaries is neglected, the beneficiaries vaccinated on our camp were checked for these and given an information slip equipping them with post-vaccination care information and medication”

- Tavissi Jain, Founder of CCA (Coimbatore COVID Aid)

The Helpdesk

We recognised that although many resources are available, most people are unsure of where or how to look for them. This includes beds and medicines, but also ambulances, COVID test centres, vaccination centres etc. We aim to solve this through ‘The Help Desk’ - a database of updated information and resources for COVID patients. The document (available in both English and Tamil) is personally verified and is easily accessible via our social media platform

The Info Desk

‘The Info Desk’ was born from the necessity to disseminate correct information about COVID. New COVID variants, fungi, convoluted instructions for home-care and vaccine-related misinformation have negatively affected people with otherwise milder cases and added to the stress already present on the healthcare system. We curate informative posts with the help of a team of medical professionals in both Tamil and English and publish this information through our social media handles.

The Food Chapter

The Food Chapter connects quarantined individuals and families with those willing to provide food for the required time with a simple form to fill. In case we are unable to find a match, local home-shares or larger food providing services are contacted to do the needful. We have provided over 250 meals to date and are working towards helping more families.

Help Tiruppur Breathe

A major point of concern is the limited number of oxygen-equipped beds available in the area.

To

facilitate established medical facilities with oxygen so they might serve COVID patients, Coimbatore COVID Aid began its first fundraiser - “Help Tiruppur Breathe” on the 20th of May. With the money raised, the organization acquired and donated oxygen cylinders to the Tiruppur District Administration to be added to their pool of cylinders. These will be deployed to hospitals in and around the area, depending upon the need. We delivered 30 (47 litres D type) jumbo oxygen cylinders along with 25 flowmeters and 25 regulators to the Tiruppur District Collectorate on June 11. We undertook this project in association with Community Organisation for Oppressed and Depressed Upliftment (COODU), an NGO based in Coimbatore, the Tiruppur District Administration who have graciously agreed to be responsible for the refilling and distribution of the cylinders.

All of you are doing one hell of a job! In these times, you are saving lives. Hats off to all of you. You are all humans. really proud! No appreciation cuts close to what you are doing

- Beneficiary

Our Other Projects

To further support our fundraiser, we’re hosting two fundraising events.

Wellness Weekend:

A three-day event with different online workshops for people to attend, engage with and learn from

1. "Music Therapy" with Samay Ajmera - 18th June

2. "Coping with Anxiety during the Pandemic" by The Mood Space - 19th June

3. "Yoga" with Snidha Sharan - 20th June

B School Bootcamp:

We are inviting alumni and students from various elite business schools, like Harvard, Yale, IIM, ISB and more across the globe to host a B-School Bootcamp for prospective individuals. This will be organised from July 17th - July 25th.

All the proceeds from this event go toward our fundraiser “Help Tiruppur Breathe” Campaign.

I am impressed by Coimbatore COVID Aid's dedication and efforts in organizing COVID relief operations. I have seen their work starting late May, and I can confidently say that they have been making a significant impact in and around Coimbatore district. They are a group of young, hardworking, and enthusiastic volunteers, and COODU is looking forward to supporting them in their future projects.

- Kathiresan, Founder & Secretary of COODU