S’pore Sends Oxygen Tanks, Ventilators, & Medical Supplies to India to Help Deal With 2nd COVID-19 Wave

Residents all across India are struggling to breathe as the second wave of the country’s coronavirus outbreak continues to overwhelm hospitals.

Yesterday (25 Apr), India reported a record 354,531 new infections, and the pandemic is showing no signs of abating there.

In fact, India has set the global record for the most number of COVID-19 infections in a day for the fourth consecutive day.

Due to a lack of beds and insufficient supply of oxygen, many hospitals have been forced to refuse new admissions.

Heartbreaking videos of patients gasping for air and dying outside hospitals while waiting for treatment have been circulating on social media, as residents plead with the government and other countries for help.

Now, Singapore is doing its bit to help India.

S’pore Sends Oxygen Tanks, Ventilators, & Medical Supplies to India to Help Deal With 2nd COVID-19 Wave

To aid in their battle against COVID-19, Singapore has sent essential medical equipment, including oxygen-related supplies, to India.

The move was announced by Temasek in a Facebook post on Sunday (25 Apr).

The state investment firm will be partnering with Air India and Amazon India News to airlift oxygen concentrators, non-invasive BiPAP ventilator machines, and other essential medical supplies to local Indian communities in urgent need.

An oxygen concentrator is a device that concentrates oxygen from ambient air by removing nitrogen.

With hospitals in India running out of oxygen, these concentrators could literally save lives.

The first batch of medical supplies arrived in Mumbai yesterday evening and will be supplied to various hospitals and COVID-19 treatment centres across the country.

Singapore also helped to airlift four cryogenic oxygen cylinders, donated by India’s Tata Group, from Changi Airport to West Bengal.

“We are pleased to do our small part to help people in India as they combat this wave of COVID-19. No-one is safe till everyone is safe,” Temasek said.

Other countries, such as the UK and France said it would provide oxygen supplies as well. Meanwhile, the US is lifting a ban on sending raw materials abroad to allow India to make more of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Delhi Lockdown Extended

Delhi, India’s capital and the city worst hit by the coronavirus, recently extended its lockdown until 3 May.

The city has seen a positivity rate of close to 31% for a week now, with it spiking to 36% on one day.

With hospitals forced to refuse new admissions, some frustrated family members have attacked overworked hospital staff.

Others have resorted to buying oxygen on the black market, but prices have shot up tenfold in some instances due to the constrained supply.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indians to exercise caution and get vaccinated, saying “this storm has shaken the nation”.

Feature Image: Facebook (Temasek)