AAPI provides 2,300 Oxygen concentrators, 100 ventilators and other equipment to 45 hospitals in India.
American Association of physicians of Indian origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic medical organization in the US, has raised $5 million for covid relief efforts in India fighting a deadly second wave of Covid-19.
“The generosity of the members of AAPI and Indian community has been unprecedented,” says Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, president of AAPI, representing more than 100,000 physicians in the US.
“I want to thank the AAPI fraternity, for not only contributing $5 million towards Covid relief funds, but has spent hundreds of hours in coordinating and disbursing the vital medical supplies to the most needed hospitals across India.”
“The past year, while posing major challenges has also provided opportunities for AAPI to continue to work together in helping realize the mission of AAPI,” said Dr. Gotimukula.
“We are proud that several Indian American physicians are recognized globally for their contributions to combat the deadly pandemic,” she said. “We will continue our efforts and give our best to our motherland in her fight against the deadly pandemic.”
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Many parts of India continue to face the deadly second wave of Covid-19 with number of reported Covid positive cases seems to be on the rise and thousands reportedly die daily, an AAPI press release noted.
Hospitals and medical facilities face shortage of oxygen and ICU beds, with patients lacking in adequate care.
“We have been working very diligently in sending oxygen concentrators and ventilators to India, to deal with the calamity in India and are in the process of helping to set up oxygen generator plants in different hospitals in India,” added, Dr. Ravi Kolli, president-elect of AAPI.
AAPI has to date provided 2300 concentrators, 100 ventilators and 100 high flow nasal Canula machines to 45 hospitals in India as part of the covid pandemic relief efforts, the release said
As some predict a third wave of the pandemic in India, AAPI has been planning and collaborating with several agencies and the government of India to help reach the much needed care and supplies to the remotest places in India, it said.
“AAPI will continue to use the remaining funds in preparation of the impending Covid third wave,” said Dr. Anjana Samadder,” vice-president of AAPI.
“We are discussing about coordinating efforts to make available the much needed vaccines in the slum areas in Delhi and Hyderabad where compliance is very low,” said Dr. Anil Tibrewal, who has been in the forefront leading AAPI’s efforts to help India.
As AAPI cannot direct its resources to specific areas and relies on government of India to distribute its supplies, its leaders have been working for direct transfer of the essential material to peripheral hospitals who do not get aid readily, according to the release.
Help India Breathe is a part of ApShiNi ventures’ endeavor by a group of Doctors in helping individuals to donate Oxygen related supplies to India during this unprecedented calamity, AAPI said.
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Anupama Gotimukula vows to make AAPI a premium healthcare leader (July 2, 2021)