VOICES SUMMER 2021
New York, NY | vellorecmc.org
“
of VELLORE
It was very heartening to note that the whole CMC community joined in one accord to fulfil its motto, ‘Not to be ministered unto, but to minister.' — Dr. J.V. Peter
”
CMC Director
FOUNDATION DONORS SET NEW STANDARD IN RESPONSE TO INDIA'S SECOND COVID-19 WAVE
to address the oxygen shortage and ensure equitable distribution of oxygen across the country. Locally, CMC was designated as the main referral hospital for 4-5 neighboring districts, treating a
S
tarting in March 2021, the
pay. The requirement to train medical
number
COVID-19
personnel quickly and adequately to
cases in India began to rise
treat COVID-19 patients (particularly
rapidly. The outcome was that the total
those with the most severe symptoms)
number of people testing positive for
was immense, and most importantly,
the coronavirus quickly rose to and
there was a need to quickly acquire
exceeded 15 million. During this period,
and administer the COVID-19 vaccines
hospitals in every part of the country
– Covishield and Covaxin – that are
began to exceed their capacity to treat
approved for emergency use in India.
new patients. The Christian Medical
Over the course of just three months
College of Vellore (CMC) was no
and building on its experience from
exception. When the second wave hit,
the first COVID-19 wave in 2020,
there was a lack of adequate equipment
CMC once again became the beacon of
(ventilators and oxygen concentrators)
hope for thousands of people affected
to provide proper respiratory therapy.
by the virus. CMC led modeling and
There was an overwhelming need
predictions that helped with planning
for personal protection equipment
and preparedness not only at the CMC
(PPE). Additionally, there was the
level, but at the district and state levels
need to create access to patient care
as well. CMC’s scientists were called
regardless of a patient's ability to
on to serve on a National Task Force
of
new
total of over 5,000 patients across its three campuses and over 600 patients monitored
through
a
nurse-run
telehealth program.
(continued on page 4)
2021 ANNUAL MEETING Vellore CMC Foundation held its annual Corporation meeting on June 30, 2021. Learn more about the highlights on page 3.