By Phalaen Chang | Project Assistant
In April and May, India faced a devastating second wave of COVID-19 infections, rattling their healthcare systems as sick people lined up outside of hospitals, cemeteries ran out of space and bodies started washing up on the Ganges River. At the peak of that wave, India was averaging 300,000 new cases a day and 2,000 deaths. Overall cases have been steadily declining since the end of May, several states have continued to see major surges in infections. Kerala, for example, announced a lockdown on July 14 to help curb the spread.
Since the start of the surge, International Medical Corps has been working with local partners across the country to provide critically needed equipment and supplies—including oxygen generators, oxygen delivery and storage supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE), medications and more—to hospitals and COVID-19 treatment facilities.
One of our local partners, Doctors For You, has collaborated with our team to reach more than 25 health facilities with essential oxygen supplies and equipment. "We are proud to be associated with International Medical Corps at the time when India has been struggling for oxygen to address COVID-19,” says Dr. Ravikant, Founder, Doctors for You.
Together, we are also working to address urgent needs related to essential medications as hospitals across the country have reported severe shortages in medications needed to treat COVID-19 and many underlying conditions, including diabetes.
This COVID-19 surge in India has demonstrated the risk new and highly infectious variants pose, especially in places with low vaccination rates. In response, the government has launched an effort to vaccinate 950 million people by the end of 2021.
International Medical Corps continues to coordinate with local partners to address immediate needs, provide supplies and equipment, and help healthcare facilities prepare for and respond to any subsequent surges of infections, as well as support the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and address needs around vaccine hesitancy and access.
Thanks to the support of the GlobalGiving community and other donors, we have been able to work with local partners in India to quickly deliver lifesaving equipment and supplies.
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