The JSW Foundation has handed over 200 continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) circuit kits to the Ballari Medical College and Research Centre (BMCRC) to strengthen respiratory support for critically ill newborns and improve infection-control practices in neonatal care.

The kits were handed over at the Zilla Panchayat office in Ballari on Tuesday in the presence of Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Md Haris Sumair; JSW Foundation zonal head (south India) Peddanna Beedala; Vishwanath B., professor and head of the Department of Paediatrics, VIMS, Ballari; B.K. Srikanth, associate professor and nodal officer, Special Newborn Care Unit, BMCRC; JSW Foundation Vijayanagara location head Bharathi Palanisamy; and Theme lead-health and nutrition Muthukrishan.

The support is aimed at ensuring that critically ill newborns requiring respiratory assistance have access to dedicated CPAP circuits. The use of an individual circuit for each child is also expected to strengthen infection-control measures and reduce the risk of infection-related complications.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sumair said the district administration was committed to reducing the infant mortality rate (IMR) and maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Ballari district.

He appreciated the continued support extended by the JSW Foundation towards this objective, particularly its assistance in providing the CPAP circuits and support for high-risk pregnancies in Sanduru taluk.

The initiative is part of the JSW Foundation’s Health and Nutrition interventions aimed at strengthening public healthcare services and improving access to quality healthcare for communities.

The availability of adequate CPAP circuits is expected to facilitate safer and more effective respiratory care for newborns and complement the efforts of the district administration and healthcare institutions to bring down the IMR in Ballari.

The foundation said its continued interventions were focused on strengthening neonatal and maternal healthcare services in the region.