We are witnessing an unprecedented health crisis that seems to have no end in near future. Covid has engulfed all spheres of life. Our already fragile health system is on the verge of collapse. In such a situation it is the duty of every citizen to help our fellow countrymen in whatever manners one can do. We as a civil society and a political party are serving people in need.
Last year, 2020, during lockdown we ran 23 community kitchens in three states – Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal to feed people, mostly dependent on daily incomes, who were stuck in their homes with their livelihoods having come to a standstill. This year, 2021, with the onset of second wave of Covid we have embarked on another round of efforts to provide relief to people which include:
- Ration (food) relief packets have been provided to 680 families in Lucknow and 100 families in Moradabad.
- Empty oxygen cylinders have been provided to people in need. With 11 small 10L cylinders and 3 jumbo sized oxygen cylinders, help was provided to more than 20 patients in Lucknow, Kanpur, Sitapur and Unnao.
- A teleconsultation service is in operation for patients with doctors who are volunteering their time. (Consultations have so far been arranged with 8 doctors for more than 105 patients).
- About 70 oximeters and 60 thermal scanning devices provided to our volunteers so that they can keep a tab on Covid situation in their localities.
- Provided multi-vitamin tablets and other necessary medicines to volunteers who may use them in their localities after consultation on teleconsultation service.
- 8000 hand stitched masks have been distributed.
- 22 oxygen concentrators provided in Gonda (2), Kannauj, Azamgarh, Pratapgarh, Kanpur (2), Varanasi (2), Hardoi, Sitapur, Barabanki, Unnao, Basti, Gorakhpur, Moradabad, Lucknow, Chandauli (2), Ballia, Lakhimpur Khiri districts of UP and Nadia of West Bengal and intend to provide OCs in other districts to start rural COVID home isolation assistance with oxygen, medicines and telemedicine consultation.
However, as the disease subsides more than medical help now people, especially those who are dependent on daily incomes or who have lost their jobs, need food, as their incomes have been badly hit due to another lockdown, although not as severe as last year’s. In coming days we are intend to run community kitchens again like last year.
- Salman Raini, President (Lucknow), Socialist Party (India) 9335281976
- Dr Sandeep Pandey, national Vice President, Socialist Party (India): 0522-2355978
