Fighting India’s second wave of COVID-19 through local and global support

India’s devastating second wave of COVID-19 has led to shortages of medicine, ambulances, hospital beds and oxygen. That’s where volunteers like Vasanthakumar Chandran have come in delivering help where it’s needed most, reports Thomson Reuters Foundation News.

“We are going to homes, parking outside crowded hospital gates and giving patients the much-needed oxygen support for a few hours to stabilize them,” Chandran, who works with the local charity, Kadamai Education and Social Welfare Trust, told Reuters.

Chandran and team aren’t alone. Other local volunteer groups have come together to deliver groceries, medicine and more to people under quarantine. “We figured shortages will ease if we can help people stay indoors and stay safe,” Sathya Sankaran, the organizer of another local charity, Relief Riders, told Reuters.

And, global partners are stepping up to help, too. The Government of Canada recently made a contribution of $230 million to support the procurement and delivery of COVID-19 therapeutics for low- to middle-income countries. The funds will provide 1,450 oxygen concentrators to India as a part of UNICEF’s response to the situation.

At Children Believe, we’re working with our program partners in India to help fight the virus by providing food rations, feminine hygiene products, child-protection protocols and more to help families who have lost work during the lockdown.

You can help children and families in India today by donating at childrenbelieve.ca/india-covid19.

About Children Believe

Children Believe works globally to empower children to dream fearlessly, stand up for what they believe in — and be heard. For 60+ years, we’ve brought together brave young dreamers, caring supporters and partners, and unabashed idealists. Together, we’re driven by a common belief: creating access to education — inside and outside of classrooms — is the most powerful tool children can use to change their world.

About Childfund Alliance

A member of ChildFund Alliance, Children Believe is part of a global network of child-focused development organizations working to create opportunities for children and youth, their families and communities. ChildFund helps nearly 23-million children and their families in 70 countries overcome poverty and underlying conditions that prevent children from achieving their full potential. We work to end violence against children; provide expertise in emergencies and disasters to ease the harmful impact on children and their communities; and engage children and youth to create lasting change and elevate their voices in decisions that affect their lives.