Come to any of TANKER Foundation’s dialysis units and you will be wondering if there really is a pandemic raging out there, threatening global health! That is because the Foundation sought ways to circumvent the novel coronavirus threat and to continue to serve kidney patients whose life depended on regular dialysis.

Here are some of the steps taken to achieve our mission of serving the underprivileged with access to continuous dialysis despite Covid-19 and the series of crippling lockdowns:

FOR STAFF AND AT DIALYSIS UNITS –

• Hygiene was top priority: The dialysis units were fumigated by Chennai Corporation. We went a step ahead and did fogging of all the units for extra safety.
• Our housekeeping staff, especially, had to double-up to ensure every little spot was sanitised and kept clean and safe for everyone.
• Some of the staff working in the dialysis units – bless them for continuing to serve even during the lockdowns – were unable to commute. So, we organised accommodation for them near the units by moving heaven and earth.
• We also provided food for these willing workers whom we call Angels on Earth.
• Some of them were made to shift out of their houses for being frontline health workers as the houseowners and neighbours feared they might spread the virus. So, they were also provided accommodation by TANKER.
• Some staff chose to travel every day to work. It was their husbands or family members who dropped them at the dialysis units. So, we foot the fuel bill of these brave warriors.
• At the Ambattur unit, we used our van (for awareness), hired a driver, and picked up and dropped our staff daily to make things easy for them and our patients.
• We provided personal protection equipment (PPE) and other necessary protective equipment for all the staff to stave off the virus.
• Outside Chennai, all our staff stayed in the units to ensure uninterrupted service to the patients as dialysis cannot be postponed or put on hold.
• For staff working outside Chennai, we managed to equip them with PPE kits and other necessities through one of our vendors who helped us by taking our stuff along with their medicines in their truck. They had the permit to travel as they were shipping medicines.
• TANKER paid additional rewards to staff in appreciation of their bravery and commitment during these trying times, and to encourage them to serve on.

FOR PATIENTS –

• We had provided a letter to every patient with ID cards which enabled them to travel during lockdowns without any hassle.
• At Ambattur, the van that was picking up and dropping out staff also did the same for patients who lived en route.
• We distributed masks to all patients, attendants and family members.
• The Foundation counselled patients and attendants regularly about hygiene and ways to protect themselves from Covid-19.
• The government provided 108 ambulance service for dialysis patients to commute without any trouble for which we are very thankful to the State.
• We also received offers from some well-wishers who volunteered to drive patients up and down. But thanks to 108 this was not necessary.
• Some of the dialysis units adjusted their timing to suit that of the patients and the staff, based on their convenience.

TANKER Foundation is very thankful to all our staff as combating this pandemic is surely a team effort. Our thanks also go to all those who helped and supported us to make this happen despite the challenges.