US corporate sector continues sending COVID-19 help to India
Companies, including Amway, Thermo Fisher, David & Carol Van Andel Family Foundation, and American Indian Foundation, are contributing to help India fight the COVID-19 crisis.
The US corporate sector continues to send its assistance to India to help the country fight the second wave of COVID-19, which has been seeing more than 300,000 infected people daily, putting enormous pressure on the country's hospitals reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds.
Thermo Fisher, with the help of United Airlines, on Saturday, sent the much-needed supplies to India to help expand the COVID-19 testing, the company said.
"We are humbled to be able to help our colleagues in India, and the population as a whole in their efforts to get the COVID-19 surge under control, it said.
The supplies included 4.6 million viral transport medium tubes, which prevents specimen drying, maintains viral viability, and retards the growth of microbial contaminants.
"We are grateful for your support to India," said Mukesh Aghi, President of the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum.
American Airlines said it has partnered with the Red Cross to help keep people safe from COVID-19 and help vulnerable communities around the world prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and other humanitarian crises.
Amway has announced a contribution of $500,000 to a foundation led by the US Chamber of Commerce that will deliver critical assistance and medical supplies to India, including 1,000 ventilators and 25,000 oxygen concentrators.
Additionally, the David & Carol Van Andel Family Foundation provided a generous gift of $250,000 to further these efforts, according to a statement.
"India is on the hearts and minds of Amway's global family. To our colleagues and friends across India, know that we are committed to supporting you during these tough times," said Amway's CEO Milind Pant.
American India Foundation said it has received a grant of $500,000 from the Chubb Charitable Foundation for its commitment to bolstering India's health infrastructure to face the onslaught of COVID-19 cases.
The money would be allocated to providing 100 portable hospital beds to health facilities across India.
Source: CNN
'As we watch with disbelief the COVID-19-related horror unfolding in India, we are committed to supporting those who are so tragically impacted by the pandemic," said Lori Dunstan, Executive Director of the Chubb Charitable Foundation.
"With new infections topping 400,000 per day, the crisis has overwhelmed the country's healthcare system. The grant from our foundation will add to the urgent efforts required to meet the immediate medical needs of those most affected," Dunstan added.
With a record of 4,14,188 new coronavirus infections reported in a day, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases climbed to 2,14,91,598, while the death toll increased to 2,34,083 with 3,915 fatalities reported in 24 hours on Friday, according to the Union Health Ministry.
The US government, corporates, and the people of America are working together to provide COVID-19 relief to India.
Over 45 top American companies and their CEOs have joined the task force created by the US Chambers of Commerce and Business Roundtable in association with the US-India Business Council and US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum.
Working in close coordination with the Indian government, the task force has so far announced to send 25,000 oxygen concentrators and 1,000 ventilators. Companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Deloitte, Walmart, Boeing, and Mastercard, among others announced major assistance to India.
So far, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has sent six planes carrying health supplies to India. The Biden administration has promised $100 million in aid to India. This number is expected to go up in the coming weeks, as US President Joe Biden reviews it. Besides, there has been overwhelming support from the Indian-Americans.
Edited by Suman Singh