Lockdown, loss of jobs and life, and unimaginable turmoil – it has been over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic struck us and the losses just keep on mounting. This has been one of the darkest phases that mankind has faced in decades, at a global level. While the long night continues to rage on, COVID warriors who relentlessly continue to fight are the ushers of a new dawn, offering a ray of hope in some of the darkest moments.
Ever since the pandemic hit last year, tapping into decades of experience in bringing polio to the brink of eradication, Rotary members worldwide have been helping health authorities communicate lifesaving information about COVID-19 and vaccination, combatting misinformation, supporting fair and equal access to vaccines, and curbing the spread of the virus by donating protective gear and other supplies to clinics and hospitals under strain.
In India, joining the medical fraternity, the government and other civil society partners in the fight against covid, are Rotary’s over 1.6 lakh volunteers across India who – with a resolution to offer Service above Self – have been standing tall, leading countless initiatives all over the country.
From offering cooked meals, dry rations, PPE kits, face masks, and other essential items to communities during the first wave, to assisting respective state governments in their vaccination drives, providing medical assistance during rising hospitalizations, equipment such as oxygen concentrators, setting up oxygen plants during the second wave– Rotary members spread across 4000 clubs in India have consistently participated in any and every activity to offer a helping hand to those in need in their communities across the country.
Currently, Rotary clubs continue to amplify their activities, responding to evolving challenges and issues with time, investing in diverse projects during the pandemic. Led by the Rotary India COVID Task Force, members continue to innovate basis the local community needs, and there still is no telling where the next indigenous idea crops up next for helping those in need.
For instance, in Nagpur city, when there was a dire need for urgent hospitalisation amidst countless cases, Rotary members from various clubs came together to set up a COVID control room and start a helpline that would be operational round the clock to share critical information on availability of beds and its allotment process to the public. It was indeed one of the best instances of Government-Rotary-Citizen partnership. Similarly, a war room was also setup in Bengaluru where 250 volunteers spent their time attending over 2000 calls per day.
And when the oxygen crisis raged across India, the Rotary Club of Pondicherry Midtown, stepped up to donate 42 Oxygen-beds and 2 Multi Para Monitors to Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital.
Overall, nearly 1500 covid beds have been set up across India by Rotary Members till date.
At Haryana, Kerala, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Maharastra , Assam, and West Bengal, and many other states free Covid-19 vaccination centres have been set up. Rotary Club of Madras is working with the Tamil Nadu government to help support procurement, cold chain storage and delivery of vaccines. Rotary Clubs in Delhi set up 10 oxygen plants, started Oxygen concentrator banks along with a dedicated helpline with nearly 30 members, for coordinating most emergent needs for the people of Delhi including medicines, hospital beds, oxygen.
When need for medical equipment was at its peak, Rotary joined hands with ACT Grants and Swasth Alliance, entering into an MoU with United Way Bengaluru to supply free-of-cost Covid care. This included 50,000 oxygen concentrators, 12,000 oxygen cylinders, 5,000 BIPAP (Ventilator like machines) (Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure), 100 PSA Plants (Prostrate -Specific Antigen) and 50,000 Pulse Oximeters.
In last one year, our mission to inspire, empower and connect people became a revolution that strengthened the world’s largest democracy’s fight against the deadly coronavirus. Initially, what seemed like a war too hard to be fought, eventually seemed defeatable with collective efforts of those willing to make a difference.