20 UK Rotary Clubs help Chennaites
One may call it a first of its kind collaboration between 20 Rotary Clubs in the U.K and with Rotary Club of Madras Chenna Patna that ended in supplying nearly 20 oxygen concentrators and medical equipment worth Rs.20 lakh to various hospitals in Chennai and tier-II cities of Tamil Nadu in the recent few days to treat Covid patients and help prevent further spread of the pandemic in India.
In all, there were 34 major donors from the UK, of which 21 were Rotarians and the rest were individual donors. The donation drive was initiated by the President of the U.K. Rotary Club of Aireborough, Raj Mani and Rotarian Ramanathan of Chenna Patna club.
The money was routed through Rotary Club of Madras Chenna Patna, which also contributed nearly Rs.5 lakh with the help of its members and 1985 batch mates of National Public School spearheaded by J. Ganesh.
“It was a sub-culture of appreciation and fondness for India among the U.K. citizens that resulted in gifting 19 oxygen concentrators, 800 PPE Kits, 500 NRB masks, 450 underpads, N-95 masks, wheelchair, gumboots and hand sanitizers among others,” said Raj Mani.
The major beneficiaries are Family Mission Hospital in Kotagiri; St. Thomas German Hospital in Arani; Salvation Army Catherine Booth Hospital in Nagercoil; Our Lady of Health Hospital in Thanjavur; St. Joseph Hospital Dindigul; Covid Care Centre Erode; Government Hospital Villupuram; Government Hospital Coimbatore, Ponneri Government Hospital, Sir Ivan Stedford Hospital in Ambattur; Anandam Old Age Home; Stanley Hospital, Lakshmi Pain and Palliative Care Trust, Military Hospital St. Thomas Mount, Greater Chennai Corporation and Old Age Home in Chennai.
All the oxygen concentrators and medical equipment were delivered to trust and non-profit making private hospitals and government hospitals during the second week of June, while some of the lifesaving equipment were immediately put to use.
“This is the first time that our Sister Club has come forward to prevent and treat those affected by Covid. We appreciate their gesture,” said B. Chakravarthy, President, Rotary Club of Madras Chenna Patna.
