Few like-minded Goa residents donate 8 ambulances for treatment of COVID-19 patients

Mumbai, Jul 10 A dreadful second wave of COVID-19 created havoc the country and its effects were overwhelming here in Goa. There was acute shortage of basic items like oxygen, hospital beds, ambulances and other medical equipment.

During the first week of May, Hemant Bhasin, Past President of Rotary Club of Delhi Southend spoke to few like-minded residents and formed "Support Group for Covid Warriors in Goa (SGforCW)". Within a span of less than 20 days, a trust was formed in the middle of curfew, with safety kept as priority, they still managed to have the trust registered in record time, a bank account opened, appeals sent out, volunteers pulled in, they have been on calls with administrators, senior hospital staff, District Collector's offices to understand the genuine requirements for Goa.

The Group's vision was very clear to give support to the Covid Warriors. With a short span of time SGforCW delivered 4 Ambulances 2 each to the office of District Collector's office and North and South Goa.

In line with the requirement, two more Ambulances were being delivered to DC South Goa on July 07 and 2 more Ambulances to DC North Goa on July 10. Total of 8 Ambulances have been donated by Bhasin which are going to help the residents of Goa.

SGforCW also donated medical equipment to DC's North and South Goa.

The trustees are Hemant Bhasin, Sck Puri, Anupam Saksena, Raju Rangachar, Kripa Desai, & Rajkumari Thadani

The group has organised themselves into small focused working teams pulling in from their network of experts for each to make things move fast but also with direction and quality. From a Need Assessment Group and Procurement Team to Implementation & Logistics and Quality check, social media and PR support. All these are volunteers.

Their appeals are aimed at people living outside Goa who have all got links with our state. Their line - You have always come to Goa for that much-needed holiday - Now Goa Needs You.

Talking to Bizz Buzz, Bhasin said, "The SGforCW was formed to help COVID-19 warriors. When the second wave hit Goa, local administration got busy in building up the facilities in hospitals and providing providing beds, Oxygen concentrators, Oxygen and medicine. When I spoke to the administration, they said that they don't have enough number of ambulances. It is how the idea flashed to our mind."

Their mandate for fundraising is complete transparency. They used social media to publish collections vs procurements with every penny accounted for.