Amazon in India has partnered with several NGOs across the country to donate hygiene aid kits, personal protective equipment kits and groceries in support of healthcare workers and communities most affected by COVID-19. These donations are being distributed across Maharashtra, Haryana, Delhi – NCR, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh through its NGO partners that include United Way, Oxfam India, Concern India, India STEM Foundation, Read India, American India Foundation, Care, Learning Links Foundation, Indian Women and Children Foundation, ASVSS, and Forum for Rural Development. Amazon is working closely with these NGOs and various state departments to identify the requirements from each region in association and ensure that the donations reach the most vulnerable.
One lakh N95 masks donated to hospitals
Through its partners, Amazon has donated 100,000 N95 masks to hospitals for use by frontline health workers such as doctors and hospital staff, close to 65,000 personal protective equipment kits consisting of safety materials for public health institutions and frontline staff to deal with the acute shortage of protective equipment. In addition, over 40,000 basic hygiene kits that include 3 ply masks, soaps and hand sanitizers have been donated to prevent the spread of the virus in local communities. To ensure that vulnerable families are able to follow social distancing and stay indoors at this difficult time, close to 10,000 basic grocery kits comprising dry ration materials have also been distributed. Beneficiaries of these grocery kits include daily wage workers, migrants and micro business owners who face immense difficulties in surviving at this time.
Minari Shah, Director – Public Relations, Amazon India said, “We firmly stand with communities and the country in our collective effort to curtail the spread and limit the impact of COVID-19. Each state faces its own challenges in protecting its most vulnerable communities, including migrants, healthcare workers and daily wage workers. With the entire country coming together, we hope to overcome this challenge and our contribution is our way of uniting against the pandemic.”
The safety and protection of our health care professionals helping COVID-19 patients is of paramount importance and this huge donation is an essential service in keeping them safe. United Way Mumbai is privileged to have assisted with this effort.
“We are very grateful to Amazon for donating and delivering these critical masks to 30 COVID-19 designated public hospitals across the country. The safety and protection of our health care professionals helping COVID-19 patients is of paramount importance and this huge donation is an essential service in keeping them safe. United Way Mumbai is privileged to have assisted with this effort.” said Jayanti Shukla, Chief Executive Officer, United Way Mumbai”
We are overwhelmed with the commitment shown by Amazon to control the impact of COVID 19.
“We are thankful to Amazon for their commitment towards controlling the impact of COVID 19. There is a need to identify the people who need help the most, especially those who are struggling to survive at this time. We are relentlessly working with government bodies to identify such people and with the support of Amazon, we are able to support their basic needs," said Pankaj Anand, Director of Programme & Humanitarian Response at Oxfam India.
Speaking on the occasion, Geeta Malhotra, Country Director from READ India said, “We are overwhelmed with the commitment shown by Amazon to control the impact of COVID 19. There is a need to identify the most in need, especially those who are struggling to survive at this time and we are relentlessly working with government bodies to identify such people and with the support of Amazon, we are able to support their basic needs.”
