HOUSTON, May 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sewa
International has procured 7,482 oxygen concentrators, 20,500 pulse
oximeters, 250 ventilators, 256 co-ventilators and other much
needed medical equipment and has shipped most of these to
India via UPS over the past two
weeks. Working with its partners in India, Sewa International has distributed more
than 4,000 medicine kits, and 5,000 essential kits. As Indian
hospitals and care agencies struggle to meet this dire medical
emergency, Sewa volunteers have been working across the country, in
small towns and big cities to offer information about hospital bed
availability, medical equipment distribution, vaccinations, and
testing for COVID-19. Sewa International has already spent more
than $7.5 million procuring and
shipping equipment, and helping distribute needed medicines, food,
and other supplies.
Detailing some of the work done by the Sewa International team
in India, Viswanath Koppaka, National Marketing Director
for Sewa International said, "Sewa International volunteers
facilitated the COVID-19 testing at the Government Hospital in
Hiriyur, in the Indian state of Karnataka on Tuesday, May 11. Sewa volunteers went
door-to-door to create awareness among people in this small town
about the significance of timely testing for COVID-19." He said
that "Oxygen concentrators sent from the US has also reached
Lucknow, the capital city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on
Tuesday, May 11. Sewa has sent 70
concentrators to the city for immediate use as they will fulfill
the urgent needs of various Covid Care Centers across the city.
Uttar Pradesh reported 20,435 fresh cases on May 11 and had 2,16,057 active cases. The big
challenge right now in India is
the sheer number of people testing positive; the lack of medical
equipment; and the difficulty for volunteers to work efficiently,
quickly, and without hindrance in a country that is essentially
under lockdown."
Donations Pour In
Sewa International has reached the
105,000-donor mark and raised over $16
million from its 'Help India Defeat COVID-19' Facebook
campaign and through their website campaign. As of May 10, Sewa International had procured 7,482
oxygen-concentrators and airlifted 5,482 of them to India. The highlight of the fundraising
campaign was the recent $2.5 million
pledge made by Jack Dorsey, CEO of
Twitter. "We are happy that CEOs of multinational corporations and
ordinary citizens of America are coming to the aid of India in this hour of need, and we are
thankful that they have put their trust in us to offer medical aid
in India quickly, efficiently, and
professionally," said Arun Kankani,
President, Sewa International. "We
will do our best to help those suffering in India, and we will do as much as we can,
quickly, to relieve the pressure that hospitals and care agencies
are under," Kankani said, pointing out the challenges in procuring
and shipping the needed equipment and getting quick clearance on
the ground in India to send the
equipment to cities, towns, and villages across the country.
"There are so many generous donors that we cannot name them all,
but to all of them a big thank you," said Kankani, mentioning that
among the big donors were the American Association of Physicians of
Indian Origin, which donated $535,000
and Dr. Alok Agrawal, founder of the
Global Pragathi (Global Progress), who has donated $500,000.
ABOUT SEWA INTERNATIONAL
Sewa International
(www.sewausa.org) is a 501 (c)(3) Hindu faith-based charitable
nonprofit that works in the areas of disaster recovery, education,
and development. Sewa has 43 Chapters across the USA and serves
regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or
national origin.
CONTACT:
Vidyasagar Tontalapur – 1 -
720-526-9939
Viswanath
Koppaka – 1-
404-304-0563
Email: 309936@email4pr.com
Web: http://www.sewausa.org
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SOURCE Sewa International