Dear Rotary Leaders
You Take My Breath Away
People all over the world have been left speechless and breathless seeing the service activities of Rotarians and they have said, “You take my breath away.” But today, thousands of people are saying the same phrase, though for a different reason. Yes, Oxygen deficit amid mounting Covid 19 cases have left people breathless and they are dying in hospitals and homes. Covid is taking the breath away of thousands of people everyday and this is not a situation where Rotarians can just wring their hands and be mute spectators.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare says that medical oxygen is a critical component in the treatment of Covid 19 affected persons. India has a daily overall production capacity of over 7000 Metric Tonnes of oxygen, including volumes produced for industrial use. The production of liquid medical oxygen in the county is expected to cross 9,250 MT per day by this month.
Various factors, including the surge in number of cases, has resulted in the shortage of oxygen. Earlier the bulk of health sector’s oxygen requirement was met with supplies delivered in form of oxygen cylinders containing the element either in form of oxygen as high purity gas or through dedicated cryogenic tankers that transport oxygen. With just over 1,200 cryogenic tankers available for transport of liquid medical oxygen, today we need oxygen concentrators to reach every hospital and nursing home in the nook and corner of our country.
Oxygen concentrators can be received as gifts or ordered online from abroad and the Government of India has reduced the GST to 12% till end of June 2021 and waived the customs duty. Custom clearance will be granted for such imports by treating them on par with life- saving drugs.
I request every Rotary Leader to talk to their batchmates and sister clubs in various countries and co-ordinate the shipment of oxygen concentrators to India. Rotary clubs must be able to fund this life-saving equipment by approaching philanthropists in their community and other organisations.
Many countries have promised help and supplies have started arriving. But to micro-manage this crisis of oxygen shortage, Rotary Clubs can receive the concentrators as gifts or even pay for it since no one is safe unless oxygen is available to make you breathe. We have shown the world what world class service is and have given a new lease of life to children, aged people, homeless and those who need medical care. Rotary with over 4,100 clubs in India can deliver oxygen concentrators everywhere.
Now it is time once again to put life into Rotary. Your life and look beyond ourselves. Let every Covid patient wake up to breathe the fresh air of life once again. They should see our Rotary Service and left speechless. Covid cannot be allowed to take their breath away.