FOX 11 Local Doctors Speak on the Ongoing COVID-19 Crisis in India Skip to main content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Los Angeles, 31 May 2021 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles FOX 11 Local Doctors Speak on the Ongoing COVID-19 Crisis in India Cedars-Sinai has partnered with a humanitarian aid nonprofit to match employee donations up to $25,000 for PPE and medical equipment to maximize relief efforts for the COVID-19 crisis in India. Photo by Getty Images. FOX 11 recently spoke with Cedars-Sinai physicians Pooja Nawathe, MD, medical director of Pediatric Simulation, and Dechu Puliyanda, MD, assistant clinical professor in the Burns and Allen Research Institute, about the staggering COVID-19 crisis that continues to unfold in India, where more than 300,000 people have died from the disease. Both physicians were born in India, immigrated to the U.S. and have deep concern for loved ones-including both of their mothers-who still live in India. "Being so far, it is really scary," Nawathe told reporter Laura Diaz. Puliyanda worried about her hometown, a village called Kodagu, which is in desperate need of oxygen concentrators and personal protective equipment (PPE), just like the rest of the country. "It's taken a huge toll. Hospitals cannot even keep up with everything that's going on. There's no oxygen, and there's no help," she told Diaz. "My worst fear is that I will lose everyone I know, and that can happen." Puliyanda, Nawathe and others are doing what they can, despite being unable to travel to India. Puliyanda created WhatsApp videos in her native dialect calling for people to wear masks and keep a safe distance from others. She also has helped raise $20,000 to fund a recently opened 30-bed COVID-19 ward in her village. Fundraising efforts like Puliyanda's could have an even greater impact. Cedars-Sinai has partnered with humanitarian aid nonprofit Direct Relief to match employee donations up to $25,000 for PPE and medical equipment to maximize relief efforts. Click here to watch the complete story on FOX 11. Related Stories RSS feed - Related Stories (opens in new window) View all headlines - Related Stories HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries October 07, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles HealthDay recently interviewed Rebecca J. Schneyer, MD, a resident in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program at Cedars-Sinai, about a study she led that found Black and Hispanic women were less likely than white women to receive minimally … Read more KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot October 06, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles KCRW program Press Play recently featured Rita Shane, PharmD, vice president and chief pharmacy officer at Cedars-Sinai, discussing who qualifies for the updated COVID-19 booster and how long patients must wait before getting the shot.The Centers … Read more ABC 7 Spider-Man Swings by 4-Year-Old Leukemia Patient s Birthday Party at Cedars-Sinai September 30, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles ABC 7 recently profiled Cedars-Sinai patient Jabari Henley, who celebrated his fourth birthday with a special superhero at Guerin Children's newly opened inpatient facility.The Lifedriven Foundation helped throw Henley a surprise party in the Guerin … Read more Show previous items Show next items Contact the Media Team Email: [email protected] Share this release FOX 11 Local Doctors Speak on the Ongoing COVID-19 Crisis in India Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Search Our Newsroom Social media Visit our Facebook page (opens in new window) Follow us on Twitter (opens in new window) Visit our Youtube profile (opens in new window) (opens in new window) Latest news 07 Oct 2022 - HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries 07 Oct 2022 - Faculty Publications: Sept. 29-Oct. 6 07 Oct 2022 - Fine-Tuning Organ-Chip Technology 06 Oct 2022 - KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot 05 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Schedules Free Flu Vaccine Clinics 04 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Art Newsroom Home