Samaritans to assist India with oxygenators
THE South African Hindu Maha Sabha (Sahmsa) is aiming to send at least 100 oxygenators to India in the next week.
Since mid-April the daily number of Covid-19 infections in India has hit record highs.
A number of humanitarian organisations and countries have announced their support for India.
Last week Ashwin Trikamjee, the president of Sahmsa, said the organisation would also offer assistance.
He said the situation India faced was “frightening”.
“It used to be depressing but now it's frightening. India dropped its guard with the pandemic and now see what’s happening. In South Africa, people were angry when the level 5 lockdown was implemented but thank God the minister and the advisory committee did not give in to the calls for things to be reopened because we managed the virus well only because of the hard lockdown.”
He said the Sabha, through the consulate general of India in Durban, contacted the Delhi government, which said it was in dire need of oxygen.
“The Indian government has asked for oxygenators and we have put the call out for people who would like to donate. We are hoping to get 100 oxygenators, which we plan to send to India within the next seven days.”
Last week, Imitiaz Sooliman, the director of relief group Gift of the Givers, said they would also offer assistance to India.
The organisation was in discussions with the Indian government and the Department of International Relations and Co-operation to intervene decisively, practically and effectively, he said.
“The request is simple: we need oxygen and oxygen delivery devices, we have everything else. The public can play a role in the purchase of oxygen concentrators, which Gift of the Givers is busy procuring.”
Sooliman said they needed humanity to respond.
“The pictures, as graphic as they are, can never adequately convey the emotion, pain, suffering and desperation.
Health-care workers and the population are on edge, exhausted and burnt out.”
Sooliman said given the current economic circumstances many may not have the means to contribute but he urged people to pray for India.
“Prayers move mountains, they are free,” said Sooliman.
Meanwhile at the weekend, the South African Muslim Network (Samnet) together with the Islamic Medical Association of South Africa sent a letter to Dr Zweli Mkhize, the Minister of Health.
In the letter they called for immediate restrictions on travel from all red-line countries. India is also considered a red-line country.
“Many countries have stopped incoming travel from India, Brazil and other red-line countries altogether, or have instituted mandatory 14-day quarantine periods in designated areas for incoming travellers.
“Presently travellers coming from India, and other red-line countries, on presentation of a negative Covid test at point of entry into South Africa, can immediately travel freely all over our country without any isolation period.
“… South Africa is at great risk of a third wave and we need to ensure that any and all external factors are controlled to minimise the risk.
“Our country’s experience with both the first and second wave has taught us that we must ensure every measure is taken to prevent and guard against any risk posed that would trigger and/ or maintain a third wave with multiple variants.
“It is heart-breaking to see people struggling for hospital access, oxygen shortages, mass cremations and burials and we need to ensure that a similar scenario does not unfold in our country.”
Dr Faisal Suliman, the chairperson at Samnet, said their main concern was that South Africa did not have travel restrictions in place.
“Many countries, even South Africa itself, faced a travel ban when we were at the peak of the second wave yet it’s easy for people to travel in and out of India.
“There is no compulsory isolation for travellers arriving in the country and that’s what concerns us. Other countries have these bans and isolation but we have nothing.”