As the only government hospital in Western Maharashtra providing pediatric surgical services, Sassoon’s Pediatric Surgical Unit handles 5000-6000 cases annually, with 1500-2000 requiring surgery. Despite dedicated efforts, limited equipment has led to a 9% overall mortality rate, with 85% of deaths occurring in neonates due to factors such as sepsis and respiratory failure. To address these challenges, our project, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Pune Heritage, complements Global Grant GG 2232732 to establish a pediatric laparoscopy surgery setup. Our initiative focuses on activating an additional operation theater and procuring new equipment for cystoscopy and neonatal surgery and monitoring. This intervention is expected to reduce mortality rates by 30-40% and decrease referrals to more expensive hospitals, benefiting the low- and middle-income population of Pune and neighboring districts. By strengthening Sassoon Hospital’s pediatric surgical infrastructure, we aim to provide better services and improve health outcomes for approximately 6000 children admitted annually, of whom 2000 require surgical intervention.

The Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (LTMGH) in Mumbai, a premier medical institution known for its extensive trauma and disaster care, has grown from a 10-bed facility in 1947 to a multi-specialty hospital with over 1,400 beds. Renowned for its affordable healthcare services and pioneering initiatives like a human milk bank and emergency coronary stenting, LTMGH also hosts special clinics for conditions such as learning disabilities, hemato-oncology, thalassemia, and stem cell therapy. The hospital’s Intensive Pediatric Care Unit (IPCU) and Pediatric Hematology & Oncology (PHO) departments urgently require life-saving equipment, including Airvo 2 ventilators, fluid infusion pumps, portable syringe infusion pumps, multi-parameter monitors with backup batteries, biosafety cabinets, and hematology cell analyzers. These essential tools will significantly enhance the hospital’s ability to provide high-quality medical care to underprivileged children, ensuring better health outcomes and supporting the dedicated medical staff in their efforts to deliver state-of-the-art treatment.

The Rotary Club of Davangere Vidyanagar aims to enhance neonatal care at the Government Women and Child Hospital in Davangere by providing essential equipment such as neonatal ventilators, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines, and High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) devices. This initiative addresses the critical need for specialized newborn care in the district, where no hospital currently offers such services. According to hospital records, a significant percentage of neonates suffer from conditions like respiratory distress syndrome (94%), sepsis (68%), and birth asphyxia (54%), all of which require ventilatory support. By equipping the hospital with these devices, the project aims to reduce neonatal mortality rates and prevent the economic and emotional strain on families who travel long distances for care. The availability of ventilators and CPAP machines will significantly improve the survival rates of neonates with respiratory issues, sepsis, and other conditions, offering life-saving care to the most vulnerable. This project will cater to the high demand for neonatal ventilators in both rural and urban areas of Davangere, ensuring affordable and effective medical treatment for the underprivileged.