COVID-19 cases have skyrocketed in India, more than 1 million have been infected in just a few days. With such a heavy increase of infected people, the healthcare is overwhelmed. Lack of medical supplies is of grave concern and there is a shortage of medical oxygen and ventilators, as well as human resources and ambulance services.
The country is not only suffering from the virus itself but also from the socio-economic effects is has on the population. The Red Cross has a good understanding where local efforts are needed and how a donation will have the best impact for the people in India. Several Red Cross hospitals have been designated as COVID health centers. Indian Red Cross Society has also provided oxygen cylinders and plasma to hospitals.
In addition to this, the donation will contribute to:
- Vaccination drive
- COVID clinics
- Testing, screening, surveillance
- Setting up of quarantine facilities
- Logistics of Government to Government in-kind donations
- Awareness campaigns
Partners within Saamuhika Shakti respond to the situation
In addition to the above, several organisations within our initiative to improve the quality of life for waste pickers in Bengaluru, India, are working on the ground in the following ways:
- Hasiru Dala is supporting waste picker communities with food and ration supplies. They are providing healthcare support to the community through early testing, vaccination drives and helping them access medical care, as needed. They are also working to set up a COVID care center which will also cater to the needy section of the community.
- Other partners including WaterAid India, CARE India, Save the Children India and LabourNet are supporting Hasiru Dala to proactively stay in touch with the waste picker community and identify their needs at the earliest and respond as needed.
- LabourNet is supporting local authorities with 50 help desks at hospitals in Bengaluru.
- CARE India, Save the Children and WaterAid will also be providing necessary relief materials to meet the immediate needs of the community.
- In addition, CARE India will be looking to support efforts to augment access to medical oxygen at government hospitals in Bengaluru.
