A network of South Asian NHS leaders has mobilised their efforts as a voluntary staff network to raise over £46,000 (with Gift Aid) to support India’s healthcare response to Covid-19.
With one of the highest rates of Covid infections and deaths in the world, the South Asian NHS leaders’ group – APNA NHS (which translates to ‘Our NHS’) were deeply touched by the plight of family and colleagues in India as they struggled to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic. The £46,000 raised so far by their India Covid Crisis Appeal has been split between five frontline charities – Akshaya Patra, British Asian Trust, The Hope Foundation, Khalsa Aid and Sewa International.
Jagtar Singh, a member of the APNA NHS staff network, said: “thank you to everyone who has supported our fundraising appeal so far. Their generosity has helped APNA NHS staff network to get vital life-saving equipment such as oxygen, ventilators, and PPE, to those most impacted by the Covid pandemic in India.
“Throughout, we have worked closely with the Indian High Commission in Birmingham and have collaborated with both British and Indian clinicians to receive feedback and also to share mutual learning.
“We have been working with five charities to act as a vehicle to get critical resources to the places that need them most, quickly. We know all too well that the Covid crisis in India is a global crisis, and we are all passionate about playing our part to help the world beat this virus together.”
Pam Bhupal, another member of APNA NHS add: “The Covid situation in India is still one of the worst in the world, and they still need our support. We are now focusing on supporting recovery, including the mass vaccinations programme, particularly with marginalised communities, and supporting mental health programmes, for orphans for example.
“We are so grateful for all the support people have given, your donation, however large or small, is vital. Please continue to share our Virgin fundraising page with your friends and networks.”
As of today, India has recorded 31,257,720 Covid-19 cases, with 419, 021 deaths, which equates to 1% of people dying who tested positive in the country. As of 6 July, 377,352,501 vaccine doses have been administered across the country.
On Tuesday, the minister of State, Health, Welfare in Rajya Sabha, India’s parliament, said that there was “no deaths due to lack of oxygen have been specifically reported by States and Union Territories”.
However, this has sparked outrage from medical professionals, journalists, and political analysts in India who have reported on the lack of access to oxygen for Covid-19 patients.
Political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla said: “Night after night, I was up for no reason… Doctors and hospitals were calling us for no reason… People were in lines for oxygen for no reason…”
Night after night, I was up for no reason.. Doctors and hospitals were calling us for no reason…people were in lines for oxygen for no reason… https://t.co/pzZ5iryt8n
— Tehseen Poonawalla Official 🇮🇳 (@tehseenp) July 20, 2021
It was announced in May that the UK Government were to give India 1200 ventilators, 495 oxygen concentrators, and three oxygen generation kits from Britain’s surplus supply.
The APNA NHS Virgin Fundraising page can be found here.
