Helping with COVID

Posted on April 24, 2021

Krishikari had a great idea about putting this space to good use to help the situation — for example, if anyone needs a bed, or where to send a donation, etc.

If you have anything to share, do get back in the comments section.

Posted in: Health, Society

49 Responses “Helping with COVID” →

Enigma

April 25, 2021

This is a great idea. If anyone is aware of a charity that is helping out with the COVID crisis, please do post the detais. I would like to contribute.

LikeLiked by 1 person
brangan

April 25, 2021

Dear Friends,
India faces its toughest health challenge in its history. Covid is raging and people are dying because of the sheer lack of oxygen, the supply of which is available but for which transportation and distribution is the main challenge. There are few organized non-profit operations to get medical oxygen to hospitals and patients at home. With a few colleagues, we have organized Oxygen for India, a campaign to get oxygen to those in desperate need. Help people dying without oxygen by paying for reusable cylinders. Oxygen supply is being provided for free by small scale industries. A cylinder costs between $200-$250 but any amount is welcome. Contributions are tax exempt in the US and India.

India
Tech4Health Foundation
A/C No: 50200045961391
IFSC Code: HDFC0 009233
Branch Address: HDFC BANK LTD, 97,GROUND FLOOR, HOSUR ROAD, OPP. FORUM MALL AND
INDIAN OIL PETROL PUMP, BANGALORE

USA
Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy, Inc. (EIN number: 27-3235008)
Please give online at cddep.org
To wire funds:
Bank of America, 3 Dupont Circle, Washington, DC, 20036 USA
Swift Code: BOFAUS3N
Routing Number: 054001204
Account Number: 226003017201
Many thanks for your help!

LikeLiked by 2 people
Harsha Bantu

April 25, 2021

Hi All, Check out the below link

https://www.ketto.org/fundraiser/mission-oxygen-helping-hospitals-to-save-lives

LikeLiked by 1 person
krishikari

April 25, 2021

Thanks BR for posting this. The info you posted above – Oxygen for India is much appreciated. It would be great if people could post local organizations in their states, organizations they personally know of which will accept donations (IBAN or SWIFT account numbers for foreign donations) to pay for hospital admissions or oxygen tanks or anything useful that will go directly to people who need it.

LikeLike
gra

April 26, 2021

Most websites do not accept international credit cards. Including the one posted by Harsha.

can some one also point me to websites that accept intl cards? Thanks

LikeLike
Vikram s

April 27, 2021

@Gra, ketto has the ability to receive donations from outside India, I suppose it depends upon whether the receiving organization has FCRA (govt permission to receive foreign funds) or not.

LikeLike
brangan

April 27, 2021

Please share this dashboard for countrywide Resources availability on real time basis across India. It could help someone, as every life saved, is one family less in distress!🙏🏽🇮🇳

https://external.sprinklr.com/insights/explorer/dashboard/601b9e214c7a6b689d76f493/tab/15?id=DASHBOARD_601b9e214c7a6b689d76f493&home=1

LikeLike
Enna koduka sir pera

April 27, 2021

I am personally involved with and can vouch for an organization called AID (Association for India’s Development – movie tidbit since this is a cinema blog – Swades was inspired by the lives of the co-founders of AID). We are working with several grassroots partners in India at this time and efforts are underway to provide medical support, set up helplines that people can access to get counseled on treatment options, at home care options, hospital availability and efforts to increase vaccine reach in rural areas. We will also in the coming days support poorer families who have lost family members or livelihoods to covid.

AID raised $1 million and supported 30 grassroots partners across India during the first covid wave last time. The need on the ground is much bigger this time. Please consider donating. We accept international donations.

Here is the link to donate http://aidindia.org/donate/covid-relief-fund/

Updates on the relief efforts are constantly updated on the Twitter page and website https://twitter.com/AIDINDIA/status/1386480762577432587

LikeLiked by 1 person
vijay

April 27, 2021

ketto is convenient atleast for those in India. I have used it.

Although looking at the big picture I am not sure if money is what is really the need of the hour even if it would’nt hurt in the long run to donate(oxygen concentrators can be bought with this money). But, it is the oxygen demand/supply, logistics issues, accessibility and surge in cases etc. that is killing people right now. Accelerated vaccination along with some ingenious solutions for oxygen, PPE etc. is more the need of the hour

LikeLike
Madan

April 27, 2021

Did my bit via the Ketto fundraiser. Tho I too wonder, like vijay, whether this will be nearly enough. The enormity of the crisis facing us is frightening.

LikeLike
krishikari

April 27, 2021

FYI
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ca5YH5YUtp7Qe63sVNX1SlepQcvzc4RCwLhMBvTJyE/edit?usp=drivesdk

This doc is being updated constantly. These orgs are able to accept international donations.

LikeLike
vijay

April 27, 2021

This crisis could have been avoided if some empathy and forethought was present in Delhi. But that is too much to expct out of these narcissistic religious zealots who are more interested in wining elections than saving lives.

LikeLike
Enigma

April 28, 2021

Thanks guys for the links. I contributed an amount and will be doing so again. Praying to God that this crisis should pass.

LikeLike
Enigma

April 28, 2021

This is not the time for blame game, but permitting Kumbh Mela and holding election rallies when the pandemic was still on was unforgiveable. Hope Indians never elect the BJP again.

LikeLiked by 2 people
brangan

April 28, 2021

Sukh-Dukh, a helpline for families who lost their loved ones to COVID-19

The Sukh-Dukh helpline also gets calls from health care professionals, said Dr MR Rajagopal, founder of NGO Pallium India.

https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/sukh-dukh-helpline-families-who-lost-their-loved-ones-covid-19-147933

LikeLike
Aman Basha

April 29, 2021

@Enigma: We’ll look into that after May 2nd. Anyhow, wanted to ask, is the Co-WIN app still not functioning?

LikeLike
Madan

April 29, 2021

“Hope Indians never elect the BJP again.” – I am amazed certain regulars on this blog haven’t descended on here yet to insult you as a ‘Dumeel’ for that. I would like to be surprised but I lean on that the worst, politically, economically, everything, is yet to come for this nation. This is just the start of the descent.

Aman Basha: Got myself registered with great difficulty and that too by using the website on PC and not the mobile app. Maharashtra is not opening up vaccination for above 18 yet so I will have to wait in any case.

LikeLiked by 1 person
Aman Basha

April 29, 2021

@Madan: If Didi falls, then this nation is doomed. Whether we hear “Kashi, Mathura baaki hai” depends on May 2nd.

LikeLike
Aman Basha

April 29, 2021

Oh fuck it, BJP is winning West Bengal, this country is doomed.

LikeLiked by 1 person
therag

April 30, 2021

I really hope this ends soon. Scaling up vaccinations should help.

I am curious as to how the cases are high across the board. Pretty much every state has a huge case load. Maharashtra seems to have had an increase 2 weeks before the other states. Why would cases blow up in Chattisgarh? It had no real major events (that I know of) and does not have a metropolis like Mumbai or Delhi (major travel and economic hubs).

Having elections in this climate was a bone-headed move, and the smart thing to do would have been to postpone them until a vaccination threshold was met but even while typing this I realize there is no way this would have been accepted. The political and media culture in India would simply not permit stakeholders to get together and come to a mutually beneficial move.
Lockdown fatigue and a general downtrend in cases led to the people getting complacent and abandoning precautions. (Go see an FDFS video of Karnan on Youtube and count how many people there are masked). Social distancing went for a toss. I don’t want to seem glib because people are dying here, but I think the people should shoulder some responsibility for this. Stopping elections might have bought the govt a week but this disaster couldn’t have been prevented IMHO.

Don’t take this as a defense of the govt. They should get their share of the blame. I have seen this cycle of “Something happens -> shit hits the fan -> take up pitchforks -> media fans the flames” too many times and wanted to throw in my 2 cents.

LikeLike
Enigma

April 30, 2021

@Madan, I am amazed (and shocked and disgusted) that some people still support the BJP. They are blaming the various state governments and the public for not following health standards. But the tone is set at the top. When Modi was flagrantly violating health standards, you can’t expect others to follow. India’s image is tarnished beyond repair, millions are at risk. At a personal level, I haven’t been able to visit my mum in over two years. Now Australia has completely banned all flights to/from India and I don’t think a trip to Chennai will be possible maybe for the next one year. India is on the front page of every single Australian news website, has captured the headlines in every news channel. What a shame.

@Aman, BJP is losing in TN and Kerala and they may be doing badly in the latest rounds of polls in Bengal (i.e., after the COVID blow up). I think TMC will win in Bengal and hopefully Cong-AIDUF combine win Assam.

LikeLiked by 3 people
Madan

April 30, 2021

Enigma: TMC MIGHT pull off Bengal but it will be tough. It’s hardly a ringing endorsement of anything even if they do for Mamata is terrible in her own way too. Most polls have BJP alliance winning Assam but again it’s a tight contest.

Anyhow, it’s not SOME but many people who still support the BJP. The aspiration of finally having a govt free from the old greedy cronies is so great that these people cannot face the fact that they/we were all wrong, that Modi is a brutal disappointment. I understand that sentiment but I cannot respect it anymore, not in the face of him looking away from the second wave.

I will stop here at least for now. This thread is different from other ones on here and should not be derailed.

LikeLiked by 1 person
Aman Basha

April 30, 2021

@Madan: Let’s not beat around the bush; Modi is not a disappointment, he has been a disaster

LikeLiked by 3 people
vijay

April 30, 2021

The actual casualty numbers from the ground are 5X what is reported in the media which are fudged. In most major cities, even if you have tons of money in hand it wont help you get a bed. Its the same whether is it Bangalore, Hyderabad or Delhi or Kanpur. We may be donating as a goodwill gesture but it is now sheer individual luck or fortune or destiny or whatever you want to call it, which is going to determine who lives and who does not in the next few weeks. Good luck to all of us and our famlies.

“I don’t want to seem glib because people are dying here, but I think the people should shoulder some responsibility for this. Stopping elections might have bought the govt a week but this disaster couldn’t have been prevented IMHO.”

therag, Govt plays a MAJOR role in pre-planning and enforcement whhich may not prevent this situation completely but could have minimized the damage quite a bit. That they sat on their asses and did nothng and worse even encouraged such behavior (Modi thanking the crowd for showing up in large numbers as late as April 17 for his rallies, to give just one example) is what makes them criminal, not just inept.But lets not discuss this thread further. Focus back to helplines.

LikeLiked by 3 people
Aman Basha

May 2, 2021

@Enigma: Congratulations on getting most of your predictions right. I’ve never been so pleasantly surprised with an election result in such a long time. There seems to be hope in the Indian polity after all.

LikeLiked by 1 person
Madan

May 2, 2021

Indeed, congrats Enigma. Congrats on having more faith than we had. Turns out Prashant Kishor was right all along and the joke is on the exit pollsters who were gloating as they wondered about what would happen to him if BJP crossed 100 seats.

LikeLiked by 1 person
Aman Basha

May 2, 2021

When’s the Kamal article coming?

LikeLike
Aman Basha

May 2, 2021

Condolences on Ulaganayagan’s loss

LikeLiked by 1 person
Enigma

May 3, 2021

@Aman and Madan, thanks guys. The people of Bengal, Kerala and TN deserve to be congratulated for doing the right thing. I was especially delighted that the communists performance in Kerala – they did manage the pandemic better than most other states. I am also disappointed that Congress lost and am a bit worried. They are generally a decent lot and the country desperately needs them. Anyway, congratulations to Didi and to all Indians. Hopefully, the fight against COVID is not forgotten. And really, really hoping that TMC, DMK ensure maintenance of COVID safe protocols, such as social distancing (was alarmed by scenes of celebrations yesterday), in their celebrations. Final word, Rahul Gandhi is the one politician who has been right on the pandemic from day one. Hope people take him seriously from one.

LikeLiked by 3 people
Aman Basha

May 3, 2021

This is an insulting underperformance even in Tamil Nadu and Kerala; the BJP usually scores a 2.6% vote share when it contests all the seats by itself. It’s no big deal that they won 4 seats, when the BJP allied with the DMK in 2001 and the DMK flopped big time, they had won 6 seats piggybacking. It’s the same that has happened this time, with a much, much smaller vote share. I remember some genius hypothesizing about how Rajini’s entry would lead to a hung assembly and some “bold prediction” about the BJP entering TN politics as a result. What a entry! Winning 4 out of 20, all AIADMK strongholds. Post this election, the AIADMK might realize the BJP is actually pulling them down. Come Kerala, they have no seat in the Assembly.

LikeLiked by 1 person
vijay

May 3, 2021

BJP never stood a chance in TN or Kerala anyways. Alternative to BJP cannot be the sickening family rule of DMK. Both these parties are bad, just in different ways.

LikeLiked by 1 person
vijay

May 3, 2021

And even though I did’nt follow NTK or MNM much during these elections the fact that neither Seeman nor Kamal could get elected themselves definitely makes me sad, but not surprised. Fresh voices like theirs are needed inside the assembly, not the same old scoundrels. But then with TN voters, it’s always a half step forward and 2 steps backward. So not surprised.

LikeLike
H. Prasanna

May 4, 2021

https://www.bgr.in/features/covid-19-vaccine-tracker-for-india-findslot-in-under45-in-getjab-in-websites-alert-when-a-slot-is-available-near-you-957523/

CoWIN website does not track and alert open slots for vaccinations (especially for those 18-45 age group). The websites in the above link help.

LikeLike
Venky Ramachandran

May 4, 2021

I run a non profit org called Mandram where we work on language and culture. As a part of our COVID initiative, we are offering Listening spaces for those who want someone to listen with their whole being. Mental Health is extremely critical in dealing with unprecedented situations like this. We are doing our bit in addressing mental health issues. If you want someone to listen in to what you are going through, here is the link: https://forms.gle/zaogL459JjthUYd59 We are currently offering this twice a week – Thursdays and Saturdays, 1 -2 PM IST. We would love to offer more, if we receive more requests: Here is the link to the form

LikeLiked by 5 people
Anu Warrier

May 4, 2021

I hope this will help somebody in India. Friends of mine – all doctors – have formed a voluntary help group for patients in India.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdUCyl_PG80KAoWNjT-bLyHB2hJKvXPkekTNXy1DHPqM92D7g/viewform

This is the message:
We are a group of voluntary medical doctors who have formed a team to help out with Covid patients in India. Please share the message and link below to your family and friends!

Here is how this group operates:

Patient fills a help request form using the below link
https://forms.gle/y6X3tV6TgKWbX9cHA

A non-doctor volunteer puts the request in the WhatsApp group to ask for a Doctor volunteer

Based on the help being requested/language preference of patient, any doctor can volunteer to pick the patient

Volunteers connects doctor and patient in a WhatsApp group

Doctor interacts with the patient on WhatsApp

Volunteer monitors the interaction and updates the status in the tracker

Let us know in case of any questions/suggestions

LikeLiked by 4 people
Madan

May 4, 2021

Received this link from a cousin in the UK – compiled by NHS about long covid. Very informative:

http://www.bif.org.uk/support-for-you/long-covid

I would add to what Venky said that long covid does create mental health issues in some cases. I attended a counselling session because my frustrated rantings about my workplace had my parents worried. Thankfully, the doctor concluded that my issues were arising purely out of said frustration and nothing to do with depression or such. So the point is do not hesitate to seek treatment for mental health. It’s not only the virus you have to watch out for now.

LikeLiked by 1 person
krishikari

May 4, 2021

Speaking of counseling — Here is one helpline specifically for supporting families whose members have died. https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/sukh-dukh-helpline-families-who-lost-their-loved-ones-covid-19-147933

LikeLiked by 1 person
gra

May 5, 2021

@Krishikari : Thanks for the document with list of places that accept Intl cards. Where do we provide feedback ? ex Hemakunt foundation does not accept intl cards.

LikeLike
krishikari

May 5, 2021

@gra the person who has put that document together has their twitter contact on the first page. Thanks for checking.

LikeLike
Venky Ramachandran

May 5, 2021

@Madan Yes, it is a huge issue. I see so many people around me breaking down. We are doing our best. Some of my friends have started https://www.covidcaremitra.com/ where volunteers are doing the basic act of checking in on people. We need to amp up more in this, if you ask me. Unless we don’t hold ourselves, we are not going to respond to the crisis.

LikeLiked by 1 person
Anu Warrier

May 6, 2021

From a friend in Bombay:

I got 1st dose of Vaccine today. And wanted to share this Covidalert telegram group link which made it possible for us to book a slot. Or else we have been trying and failing everyday.

Thought it might be useful for some of you as well. It is updated instantly as the slots open in the respective center, with its pincode.

https://covialerts.in/?s=08

Pls find the center using pincode. Fastest way.
Use chrome in incognito mode. Faster booking.
For those in Mumbai, also join the Thane grp, as thane/Navi Mumbai has more slots, opening every few hrs. through out the day. More chance.
Having telegram in laptop as well really helps to be alerted in time.

And for people in Kerala
ദയവായി ഈ വിവരം കൂടുതൽ പേരിൽ എത്തിക്കൂ . കേരളത്തിലെ ഓരോ ജില്ലയിലും ബെഡ് ഒഴിവുള്ള ആശുപത്രികളും കോവിഡ് ട്രീറ്റ്മെന്റ് സെന്ററുകളും കണ്ടുപിടിക്കാൻ സഹായിക്കുന്ന ലിങ്ക് ആണ് . ദിവസത്തിൽ ഒരിക്കൽ അപ്ഡേറ്റ് ചെയ്യുന്നു . രോഗികളെയും കൊണ്ട് ഹോസ്പിറ്റൽ തോറും അലയുന്നത് ഒഴിവാക്കാം .

https://covid19jagratha.kerala.nic.in/home/addHospitalDashBoard

Hospital Bed Availability Status

Both these messages are from people I trust in India. Posting it here, hoping it will help someone.

LikeLiked by 3 people
H. Prasanna

May 8, 2021

Thank you so much, Anu. I used the vaccination tracker from the link you sent and scheduled the first dose

LikeLiked by 1 person
Madan

May 8, 2021

I just kept trying cowin and arogya setu apps on phone and desktop simultaneously, trying pin codes and districts until I landed an appointment for a paid vaccine at Apollo. Good thing is they didn’t send me back which might have happened with the free doses. You had to pay but you were given the shot. Got it just this Thursday.

LikeLike
Anu Warrier

May 8, 2021

@Prasanna – so glad that it helped. Stay safe, all of you.

I just got my second shot yesterday and was relatively okay, though I felt extremely tired. But that’s my all-time condition, so I’m not sure if the vaccine exacerbated the situation.

LikeLiked by 2 people
H. Prasanna

May 10, 2021

@Anu Actually, one of my friends and three other relatives used it to schedule the appointment. It is really helpful, and I donated on the link.

LikeLiked by 1 person
Anu Warrier

May 11, 2021

So happy to hear that, Prasanna.

LikeLike
krishikari

May 11, 2021

This is another vetted list.
https://mutualaidindia.com/

LikeLike
Kay

May 20, 2021

Anu – Thanks for the link to the doctors group. I approached them today for some help and the response was prompt and very reassuring.

LikeLike
Anu Warrier

May 21, 2021

Kay, I’m so glad to hear that. My friends are up to their necks with their hospital duties here, but this is something they have all voluntarily signed up for. The group includes both Indian and non-Indian doctors.

So glad to hear from someone who approached them. I will be sure to pass the message on to them.

Stay safe. Stay strong.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Leave a comment