A telemedicine initiative by farmers to fight COVID-19

The surge in COVID-19 cases in rural areas and the lack of adequate beds in hospitals have led to some out-of-the box thinking from a group of farmers to make consultation available by phone. This is

The surge in COVID-19 cases in rural areas and the lack of adequate beds in hospitals have led to some out-of-the box thinking from a group of farmers to make consultation available by phone. This is resulting in early identification of symptoms and commencement of treatment to help avoid hospitalisation and deterioration of health to the point where oxygen saturation level dips and ventilator or oxygenated beds, which are increasingly difficult to come by, are needed. An initiative of the Karnataka State Sugarcane Cultivators Association, called ‘Gramina Janara Corona Seva Pade’, was launched recently with a helpline (97400 69310) dedicated to creating awareness on early diagnosis and treatment. The group includes specialist doctors as well and its objective is to infuse confidence among people who contract COVID-19 and allay fears which are resulting in people hiding early symptoms and refusing to get tested fearing isolation or quarantine, said Kurubur Shanthakumar, president of Karnataka Sugarcane Cultivators’ Association.