Houston-based Indian-American non-profit physique Sewa International, which has raised almost USD8 million in direction of COVID-19 reduction efforts in India, has dispatched the first batch of 2,184 oxygen concentrators from Atlanta. The organisation has additionally ramped up its social media fund-raising objective from the earlier USD5 million to USD10 million now.
Sewa mentioned the oxygen concentrators left Atlanta for New Delhi by air on Thursday. United Parcel Service (UPS) Foundation is carrying the cargo freed from price, it added. “Thanks to UPS Foundation for carrying our cargo freed from price, making all preparations, and giving full cooperation to transfer the materials. India crew has lined up provide chain to effectively distribute this throughout the nation,” Sewa International said in a Facebook post.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to India. We are working with our partners to deliver much needed medical equipment. First shipment of over 2,000 oxygen concentrators for Sewa International are on their way,” the UPS Foundation tweeted. Gitesh Desai, a spokesperson of Sewa International, mentioned the oxygen concentrators have been procured utilizing donations from Indian-Americans to assist India battle this disaster.
“Sewa is in the technique of constructing a digital helpdesk to present crucial data on ambulance providers, hospital mattress availability and blood and medicinal provides to folks,” Desai further said. Sewa International said it has volunteers working both in the US and India, coordinating the work of raising funds, procuring medical equipment supplies, and getting these to hospitals and institutions.
Its volunteers in India are preparing essential supply kits to distribute to low-income families. Each kit contains groceries, basic medicines, masks, sanitisers and hygiene supplies, it added. Responding to the overwhelming support Sewa received for their Facebook fund-raising campaign, the NGO’s Marketing and Fund Development vice-president, Sandeep Khadkekar, said, “We are deeply moved by the response we have received from all of you for our fundraiser. Sewa appreciates your willingness to donate for a cause that would save many lives in India.” “The Facebook fund-raising marketing campaign has had such traction as Facebook is working with us to enhance this initiative to be sure that Sewa International leverages the belief folks have in us,” said Viswanath Koppaka, the NGO’s director of marketing.
“We have about 85, 000 donors who have supported our Facebook campaign, and it has been a challenge to keep them in the loop of all the work going on behind the scenes. But we also have energetic volunteers pitching in, working late into the night, to do all that needs to be done to keep people informed,” he added. Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna thanked UPS for its efforts.
“I had a terrific name this afternoon with Penny Naas, President International Public Affairs at UPS. She instructed me of their dedication to ship oxygen and vaccines to India and to many different nations. Thank you, UPS, to your management throughout this public well being disaster,” Khanna tweeted. New York-based American India Foundation (AIF) said 500 oxygen concentrators are en route to Delhi to swiftly shore up supplies of oxygen in India’s capital.
AIF is responding to the oxygen SOS by the Delhi government, and the concentrators are expected to reach in the next three days, the foundation said. Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton issued a fundraising appeal on behalf of the AIF and other non-profit bodies.
“India is facing a surge of COVID cases that threatens to leave as many as 1 million people dead over the next few months. If you can, consider pitching in to organizations helping patients and frontline workers, like American India Foundation or others listed here,” Clinton mentioned in a Facebook publish. The VHP of America has despatched a constitution flight from Chicago carrying life-saving oxygen mills and medical tools to India.
The New York Times on Thursday launched an inventory of NGOs by way of which Indian-Americans can ship reduction supplies or donate for COVID-19 efforts in India. Ajay Jain Bhutoria, a Democratic social gathering chief from California, introduced a grassroots degree initiative with lots of of volunteers, calling folks in India to observe social distancing protocols, put on masks, keep indoors and keep away from all gatherings for the subsequent 8-12 weeks.
“This will assist cut back the load on the damaged medical system,” Bhutoria mentioned.
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