Singapore Red Cross raises over S$3.2 million to help India’s Covid-19 fight

Since the launch of its India Covid-19 public appeal, the Singapore Red Cross has received more than S$3.2 million in donations in the past two weeks.

CAPE TOWN, May 12 (ANA) – Since the launch of its India Covid-19 public appeal, the Singapore Red Cross has received more than S$3.2 million in donations in the past two weeks.

The Straits Times, a Singapore-based publication, reported on Wednesday that various local organisations and individuals stepped up to help since the public appeal on April 28.

“The funds will be used to purchase urgently needed medical equipment and supplies, such as ventilators, oxygen cylinders and oxygen concentrators,” read the press statement by the Singapore Red Cross (SRC).

“SRC will be working in close collaboration with partners including the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and other ground partners who have been actively responding to the crisis,” it said.

The SRC has already shipped and distributed 1,300 oxygen cylinders, three ISO cryogenic tanks and five ventilators to various public hospitals in India, with more than four million surgical masks, 2,000 oxygen concentrators, 1,200 oxygen cylinders and 150 ventilators due to arrive in the coming weeks.

Chief executive and secretary-general of the SRC, Benjamin William, said during a press conference on Wednesday that procuring and distributing the items has been a challenge due to the global demand and shortages of medical supplies.

“With the number of cases in India increasing day by day, the needs on the ground are growing in tandem, and so are the resources required to support affected and at-risk communities,” said William.

“Covid-19 is a curve ball and we cannot employ the same modus operandi… We need to trust partners on the ground to ensure the last-mile distribution reaches the most vulnerable,” he said.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher