Thanks to the generous support of our past travellers to India, we’ve raised over $12,000 AUD to aid in the country’s COVID-19 crisis.
India is one of the countries hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 329,000 deaths nationwide. The coronavirus variant of India’s second wave has overwhelmed healthcare providers and left the country with a shortage of critical supplies such as oxygen concentrators and ventilators.
The news out of India has been devastating for the world to hear, and particularly so for those who have a personal connection to the country — such as our own Intrepid travellers who have been to India, and who have fallen in love with the people and culture. They immediately wanted to help.
Last month we launched the India COVID Emergency Appeal through The Intrepid Foundation, to support ActionAid Australia, an on-the-ground organisation working directly with local community groups. We’re grateful to our past travellers to India, who responded to the appeal swiftly and generously.
Thanks to them, to-date we have raised more than $12,000 AUD to support the people of India.
“A contribution of $10,000 can support the purchase of 20 oxygen concentrators, saving the lives of up to 600 people who desperately require urgent care right now. Intrepid travellers, thank you so much for your generous support!”
– ActionAid
Where your donations are going
ActionAid is using donations to provide essential items such as ration kits and hygiene products, as well as establishing community-based protection systems. They are partnering with local organisations to:
- Distribute safety kits and protective equipment for at-risk communities, prioritising those involved in healthcare or burials.
- Create helpdesks to share information and link to local health services, including testing, vaccination and treatment facilities.
- Provide cash transfers so that workers can meet immediate food and health needs. Vaccines can now be purchased on the open market and some workers may use cash transfers for this.
- Support migrants who have returned to both rural and urban areas, linking them to health services and quarantine facilities if needed.
- Create protection committees to improve safety for women during lockdowns. Committees will help women to report violence and access services and support.
Impact to date
Since the beginning of this second wave, ActionAid has been able to reach more than 100,000 people in India through vaccine awareness drives, COVID-19 precautions, and counselling and psychosocial support services. To date, they have procured 60 oxygen concentrators to support government hospitals across the country, saving up to 1,800 lives, and have helped to set up COVID care centres in 15-20 hospitals across 8 states.
ActionAid has also provided cash transfers to roughly 1,000 people, specifically targeting women, persons with disability, youth and migrant workers. Other initiatives include providing food to 5,000 COVID-positive families in Patna city and ration kits to 60 young urban women in Maharashtra.
Lastly, ActionAid has set up 14 helplines, providing COVID information and vaccination updates. These helplines are receiving 700 calls daily, with staff providing continuous follow-up with people for up to a month afterwards, to ensure they receive support.
None of this work could have been done without the support of generous people like Intrepid travellers.
