Life in Singapore has returned to relative normalcy even despite a recent amping up of safety precautions, but I am reminded that other places in the world continue to struggle.
India has taken the spotlight in recent days for its struggle with the second wave of Covid-19, with citizens taking to the internet and trending the hashtag #IndiaCovidCrisis to make impassioned pleas for the world’s attention and aid. Let us explore the problem more and find out how we, as individuals, can help.
1. PROBLEM
CASES: On the 29th of April 2021, India reportedly had an average of 357,040 cases per day. In comparison, the seven-day average worldwide as of 24th April 2021 was 816,354 cases.
DEATHS: India reported a daily average of 3,059 deaths on the 29th of April. The worldwide average as updated on the 24th of April is 12,457 a day.
NEW STRAIN: Late in 2020, the B1617 strain of Covid-19 was discovered in India. This new strain is believed to be the driving force behind the spike in India’s cases. According to Today, this strain is particularly feared as it is two mutations in one strain and can “increase transmissibility and reduce the efficacy of vaccines in other strains”. Simply speaking, it could make vaccines less useful and make it easier to catch Covid-19.
HEALTHCARE SECTOR: Patients left untreated, with doctors and nurses completely booked. People desperately asking on social media for hospital beds, oxygen tanks for their ailing family members. Hospitals facing shortages of oxygen. Patients are still dying even after being admitted. This is the current state of India’s healthcare sector, overwhelmed by the extreme surge in cases.
2. HOW ARE OTHER COUNTRIES HELPING?
Over 40 countries have offered aid to India, particularly oxygen and medicine, to help them through this unprecedented crisis.
United States: The United States flew 328 oxygen concentrators to New Dehli from New York on Monday.
Singapore: Singapore sent two planeloads of oxygen cylinders to India on Wednesday. Investment firm Temasek also sent medical equipment including cryogenic oxygen cylinders.
Others:
Ireland has sent 700 oxygen concentrators and 365 ventilators to India. India also received 80 oxygen concentrators and 75 oxygen cylinders from Romania, and 280 oxygen concentrators from the UK.
3. HOW CAN WE HELP?
Here’s the most important part: How can we, as individuals, help India in this time of need? The simple answer is this: Tell as many people as you can, and donate, donate, donate! We cannot fly to India and help out, but we can support those on the ground doing their best to alleviate the situation.
Here are some places that require our donations:
- UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) is raising funds to send medical supplies (oxygen concentrators and diagnostic testing systems, hygiene supplies and PPE kits) to India’s critical care centres.
- CAREIndia is accepting donations in order to send PPE kits to India and set up temporary Covid-19 hospitals and care centres there.
- You can also donate to the Singapore Red Cross to deliver support to affected communities in India.
- For those of us who want to donate directly to the people rather than organisations, there is also a Google Document compiled by activists that list in detail community crowdfunds, fundraisers for specific families in need of help, or fundraisers for minority groups in India most affected by the crisis.
Because we in Singapore are privileged enough to have a low spread of Covid-19 and lead mostly peaceful lives, we should think beyond ourselves, and help others. Compassion, I believe, is the best protection in these struggling times. Let’s help India out as much as we can, as well as any other countries that may need our help in the future!
This article was brought to you by Su Thet Hnin San. Aside from social activism and current affairs, she also enjoys ice skating, watching Netflix shows, and playing video games.
