Autorickshaw ambulances drafted to take Covid-19 patients to hospitals

<p>
<strong>Necessity is the Mother of invention! Proving that in these trying times of surging Covid-19 pandemic are these ambulances on three-wheelers.</strong></p>
<p>
Thinking out of the box, Delhi Government authorities have come up with unconventional mode of transport to rush Coronavirus patients to hospitals. Running short of ambulances, authorities have turned some of the Capital’s ubiquitous three-wheeled autorickshaws into makeshift ambulances to ferry Covid-19 patients.</p>
<p>
In association with a non-profit organization the authorities have launched more than a dozen autorickshaws with hand sanitizers and face masks, with oxygen cylinders available in the vehicle on a need basis. What makes the services rendered by these usually bad-mouthed vehicles is that it is absolutely free!</p>
<p>
The services started officially on May 4.</p>
<p>
In a Reuters report, autorickshaw driver Raj Kumar disclosed that he had ferried patients to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, the Capital’s largest facility.</p>
<p>
<img alt="" src="https://www.indianarrative.com/upload/news/Raj_Kumar_Autorickshaw_ambulance.jpg" style="width: 960px; height: 621px;" /></p>
<p>
<em>Keeping service before self auto driver Raj Kumar (Pic: Courtesy reuters.com)</em></p>
<p>
The 42-year-old Kumar, at personal risk to his life and family is more than willing to take patients and their relatives to the hospitals. After each trip, he ensures that the three-wheeler is sanitised thoroughly to make it safe for the next passenger.</p>
<p>
Making an insightful observation, Kumar donning a PPE suit, says: "We must all help each other out at this time of need to get out of this situation. If everyone stays home because they are scared, then who is going to help those in need?"</p>
<p>
As a measure of precautions, there is a plastic partition between the driver’s seat where Kumar sits and the seat at the back where passengers sit.</p>
<p>
It is not just Kumar, one can spy other drivers too waiting near their autos, all set to transport the sufferers of the Coronavirus disease and their relatives for free.</p>
<p>
In a video uploaded by Reuters, Rahul Malhotra, whose father is admitted in Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP), and his mother, ride an auto rickshaw ambulance.</p>
<p>
Talking to the agency, Mohit Raj, the Founder and Executive Director of the Turn Your Concern Into Action Foundation, said the positive response which the scheme had shown makes it clear that more such vehicles are needed on the road.</p>
<p>
"Now we are getting calls not just of COVID patients but from front-line workers who are unable to find patient conveyance, as well as from people with other ailments," he said.</p>
<p>
Besides, Raj added he has received requests from other parts of the country to start services there. Going by the number of autos that ply in the NCR region, including Ghaziabad, Noida, Gurgaon, and  Faridabad, a joint initiative by all the State Governments, could prove to be an useful alternative for Covid-19 affected persons and their families.</p>
<p>
With ambulances hard to come by as a devastating surge in cases that is overwhelming the healthcare system, families are taking to any recourse available, even private ambulance operators, who demand exorbitant charges to take the patients to the hospitals.</p>