COVID-19 Warriors: Amid Oxygen Shortage, Khalsa Aid Provides Free Oxygen Concentrators To COVID-19 Patients In Home Isolation In Delhi

New Delhi: During the ongoing second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, apart from hospital beds, ambulances and medicines, people have been hunting for oxygen. In this time of unprecedented medical emergency, International NGO Khalsa Aid’s India chapter has come forward to provide Oxygen concentrator devices to the COVID-19 patients in home isolation in Delhi for free of cost. According to experts, oxygen concentrator can be helpful for mild to moderate cases of COVID-19. Currently, the NGO is providing free ‘Sewa’ (service) of oxygen concentrators in the National Capital Region of Delhi and soon plans to expand its services to other states.

Also Read: COVID-19 Crisis: ‘Oxygen Langar’ At This Ghaziabad Gurdwara Has Helped Save Lives

Sharing his experience with NDTV, Amarpreet Singh, Director, Khalsa Aid India said,

Khalsa Aid has worked tirelessly during many calamities like earthquakes and floods. Now we are running a drive to help COVID-19 patient with oxygen concentrators and assist the COVID-19 relief work. We are getting support from our chapters in the United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom. They are contributing generously towards our drive. We are also receiving a lot of cooperation from the patients and their families. Initially when we started the drive, we were told that people may not return the concentrator, but we had faith in them, and we knew that they would cooperate in these times of crisis.

Explaining the process for availing the facility, Mr. Singh said that the NGO has started a dedicated helpline WhatsApp number (+91-9115609005) where the patients need to send a message after which they will be sent a Google form to fill-in details including their address, condition and other necessary information. Mr. Singh added,

Our volunteers call patients based on the order in which the Google forms are filled. We verify the details and ask about the status of the patient. If the patients have still not received any support from hospitals, we provide the oxygen concentrator at their home. Patients can keep the concentrator for seven days after which if the patient is better, our volunteers go to their house to pick up the unit. We tell the patients that in case the unit gets free prior to seven days, they should not hold the unit any longer and give it back to us so that it can be used for saving more lives.

The NGO has ordered over 1,500 more units of oxygen concentrator which they are yet to receive from the manufacturer. On the demand and supply of oxygen concentrators in the national capital, Mr. Singh said that the helpline receives hundreds of messages every day.

Also Read: COVID Warriors: Free Auto Ambulance Service For COVID-19 Patients Launched In Delhi

There is a lot of demand for oxygen among the COVID-19 patients. Managing the supply is a huge challenge that the government is also facing, and our organisation is also facing. But with God’s grace were able to procure some units of oxygen concentrators and currently 500 units are in circulation in the national capital, said Mr. Singh.

The NGO has been receiving support from people across the world including author JK Rowling who donated a six-figure grant to the organisation to boost their work in the country. The creator of Harry Potter took to twitter to acknowledge the work being done by Khalsa Aid. She said,

Once again, a huge thank you to everyone who bought a copy of The Ickabog. As a result, my charitable trust continues to be able to support those worst affected by the pandemic #COVIDIndia

How Does An Oxygen Concentrator Work?

Oxygen concentrators are medical devices that assist people who have a low level of oxygen in their blood. They are powered by plugging the device into an electrical outlet or by using a battery. The device receives air, purifies it, and then distributes the newly formed air.

An oxygen concentrator receives the air, purifies it, and then distributes the newly formed air

Before it goes into the concentrator, the air is made up of 80 per cent nitrogen and 20 per cent oxygen. An oxygen concentrator uses the air in the room which is made up of nitrogen, oxygen and other gases and with help of the water in the bottle attached to it, the device is able to produce 90 – 95 per cent pure oxygen and 5 to 10 per cent nitrogen. The nitrogen is separated to give the patient the highest dose of oxygen possible to help them recover.

Also Read: Cricketers Yusuf Pathan And Irfan Pathan’s Cricket Academy Provides Free Meals To COVID-Hit People In South Delhi

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.