iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Twitter Inc has come out and donated $15 million to help address the second wave COVID-19 crisis.
On Monday, May 10, the microblogging founder and CEO Jack Dorsey said in a tweet that he has donated to three non-governmental organizations – Care, Aid India and Sewa International USA.
The company said in a statement, “Sewa International is a Hindu faith-based, humanitarian, non-profit service organization. This grant will support the procurement of lifesaving equipment such as oxygen concentrators, ventilators, BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) and CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines as part of Sewa International’s ‘Help India Defeat COVID-19” campaign.”
“Equipment will be distributed to government hospitals and COVID-19 care centers and hospitals,” it said.
Reacting to the announcement, Sewa International’s vice president for Marketing and Fund Development Sandeep Khadkekar thanked Dorsey for his generous donation, saying it is gratifying that Sewa’s work has been recognized.
“Our administrative costs are about five per cent, meaning that every dollar a donor offers, we spend 95 cents of it on the work that it is earmarked for. In these past two weeks, we have seen how overwhelmed India’s healthcare system is, and we want to do as much as we can to come to the aid of people who are deeply affected. Twitter’s generosity will go a long way in helping us do the work we want to do, and that we need to do,” he said.
With this, Houston-headquartered Sewa USA has so far raised USD 17.5 million towards its India COVID-19 relief efforts.
CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty.
Twitter said the grant of USD 10 million will support CARE’s urgent action to help address the deadly second wave of COVID-19 infections devastating India.
“Funds will be used to supplement government efforts by setting up temporary COVID-19 care centers; providing oxygen, PPE kits and other critically needed emergency supplies for frontline health workers; and addressing vaccine hesitancy and helping ensure that people get vaccinated, particularly in remote, marginalized communities in India,” it said.
Association for India’s Development (AID) is a volunteer movement promoting sustainable, equitable and just development.
AID partners with grassroots organizations in India on interconnected areas of education, health, agriculture, livelihoods, environment, and human rights, Twitter said.
“This grant will help under-resourced communities identify COVID symptoms, prevent spread, access care and treatment, benefit from medical equipment including oxygen, oximeters, thermometers, protective gear and vaccination, survive lockdowns, regain livelihoods and will strengthen hospitals and NGOs that serve rural and low-income communities,” Twitter added.
India has been severely affected by the unprecedented second wave of the coronavirus and hospitals in several states are reeling under the shortage of health workers, vaccines, oxygen, drugs and beds.
After recording over four lakh fresh cases for four consecutive days, India witnessed a single-day rise of 3,66,161 COVID-19 cases on Monday, which pushed its tally to 2,26,62,575, according to the health ministry.
