The USICOC Foundation shipped another 128 Oxygen Concentrators (for a total of over 85 ventilators and nearly 250 oxygen concentrators shipped) to aid in India’s COVID19 pandemic relief efforts. This is the fifth shipment sent by the USICOC Foundation. These 128 oxygen concentrators are headed to government and NGO hospitals in 3 states across India including Mercy Mission- an organization of more than 300 volunteers including alumni from Bangalore Medical College who are providing medical care for migrant workers and rural communities during COVID in and around Bangalore, Karnataka.
Neel Gonuguntla, President of the US India Chamber of Commerce DFW, who is leading efforts on behalf of the USICOC Foundation and nearly 20 partnering community organizations in Texas credited many individual donors, businesses, and community organizations for their efforts.
“In our darkest hours, we discover the true strength of collective team effort.” said Dr. Sai Gundlapalli. These sentiment were echoed by Dr. Anand Reddy who added, “This is our chance to give back to our Mother country on this Mother’s Day while supporting our friends and classmates who are working on the frontlines on the ground. We want to make sure the socio-economically disadvantaged are getting the help they need during this pandemic.”
The second wave of the COVID19 pandemic in India continues to be devastating in India. Many Indian-Americans with close ties to India are feeling the impact of the second wave at a very personal level and are channeling their prayers and good wishes by helping to send needed medical equipment though the USICOC Foundation.
“The healthcare crisis that has hit our motherland is heartbreaking,” said Mr. Ravi Shakamuri. “We see it as our inherent responsibility to do the best we can to support those who are making superhuman efforts to coordinate and connect the needs on the ground.” Dr. Jayaram Naidu added, “We are all fortunate to have partners like Dr. Ravi Vemuru on the ground to help direct local efforts to make sure that the equipment is reaching hospitals and doctors who can put it to use right away.”
Gonuguntla who, along with Ashok Mago and Jagdip Ahluwalia, has been overseeing the fundraising as well as helping to coordinate the efforts said, “this effort is only possible because of the hundreds of helping hearts. This entire effort has been a symphony of compassion on behalf of donors, logistics providers, airports, airlines, and the teams on the ground in India.”
Big Logistics, DFW Airport, and Qatar Airways helped provide all the logistics support for this shipment.
Dr. Shylesh Ganta, one of the donors said, “None of this would be possible without the dedicated efforts by the USICOC Foundation. Having a partner who can channel resources appropriately is key during times like these.”
In addition to the Indian American doctors in West Texas who sponsored this shipment, nearly two dozen organizations have supported the USICOC Foundation’s efforts including the USICOC Foundation, the Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Dallas, the Sri Meenakshi Temple Society, Ismaili Jamatkhana in Houston, Dallas Indian Lions Club, Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple of Frisco, Dawoodi Bohra Community, IT Serve Alliance, Ekta Mandir- DFW Hindu Temple, Ryan LLC., Gupta-Agarwal Foundation, BITOSA, West Texas Indian American Doctors, Austin Indian Community, USICOC Foundation, IACCGH, IIT Alumni Association of North Texas, India Association of North Texas, Gujarati Samaj of Dallas, Global Hindu Heritage Foundation, Indian Doctors Association- Houston, St. Louis Hindu Temple, Indian American Families Federation among others.
