The partnership will strengthen healthcare infrastructure and COVID-19 response
Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and AquaKraft Projects have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch an Integrated Public Health Initiative – ARAIKE LIFE. The initiative will work in the areas of Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) with a focus on COVID Response Innovation.
The objective of ARAIKE LIFE, where ARAIKE means Care & LIFE mean Laying India’s Foundation for Empowerment, is to curate an integrated Public Health Programme in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. This will be a composite of Infrastructure and capacity building at different levels, from rural to urban areas. The partnership aims to leverage the strong domain knowledge and expertise of PHFI along with the extensive on-ground experience of AquaKraft in implementing complex drinking water and sanitation programs across rural India.
ARAIKE LIFE aims to facilitate this for the benefit of the young population of India, which is a great demographic dividend, thereby accelerating progress towards a healthy nation by 2030. ARAIKE LIFE invites the Indian Diaspora, especially the doctors to come and partner through knowledge sharing, best practices, evidence-based therapies, financial participation and contribute their mite to this public health movement. ARAIKE LIFE aims to raise Rs 100 crores in the initial phase by inviting compatible corporates to join this unique movement that paves India’s path from a covid victory in 2021 to SDG success by 2030.
Prof K Srinath Reddy, President, PHFI said, “Sustainable development is critical to India’s growth for ensuring the well-being of its people along with economic progress. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has put considerable stress on India’s limited healthcare infrastructure and resources. Sustainable infrastructure forms the bedrock of the capacity to meet the ongoing challenges and any unforeseen emergencies. Therefore, scaling up of existing health care facilities and augmenting health care infrastructure is essential not only to fight the ongoing pandemic but also to prevent any future public health emergencies. PHFI, which represents a Partnership for Public Purpose, in collaboration with AquaKraft, will engage and liaise with State and Central Governments, and assist in building a bridge between the district administration and communities by identifying and filling the demand and supply gaps in much-needed healthcare infrastructure.”
Highlighting the need for innovative partnerships in public health, Dr Subramanya Kusnur – Founder, AquaKraft Projects said, “AquaKraft has been advocating sustainability right since its inception in 2010 and we believe that drinking water and sanitation has a direct impact on Public Health. We aim to curate ARAIKE LIFE as an all-inclusive, multi-stakeholder program specific to each geography considering the local demographic & socio-economic parameters. In this regard, we will be inviting qualified corporates to partner with us and fund this socially impactful development initiative.”
