As India struggles to contain Covid, it's time for NRIs to step up

As India suffers through a calamitous Coronavirus surge, the worries of Non Resident Indians for their families and loved ones are ‘clear & present’. Unlike the first wave of COVID pandemic, this time both urban as well as rural areas have been severely affected. With a low vaccination rate and mass scale COVID positivity, we in India are fighting a colossal health & financial emergency with a creaking medical infrastructure & insufficient equipment.

Consequently, NRIs remain a very worried lot and are trying to continuously reach out to friends & family back home.

Whether you have elderly parents or a family of dependents in India, as an NRI you want to ensure timely medical support & care in case of COVID affliction. This time around, it is not only about the money or influence; solving for the sheer unavailability of supplies and medical facilities requires considerable ingenuity, accompanied by a ton of good luck!

But worry begets worry, so let’s focus on to-do items and provide comfort, and alleviate pain. Here are a few suggestions :

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1. Gift Oxygen Concentrator
Taking note of the acute oxygen shortage, the DGFT has allowed NRIs to gift Oxygen Concentrators to their relatives in India. The government has also suspended basic customs duty on oxygen related equipment till July 2021. IGST will apply. Oxygen concentrators filter out nitrogen and create medical grade oxygen from the ambient air. Thus the device is handy in dire situations where blood oxygen levels (SpO2) drop below 93%. Making this equipment readily available would be most opportune and will offer a certain peace of mind.

2. Financial Assistance for the cause
You can donate Covid relief equipment and materials, or fund NGOs and communities working consistently for supply & refilling of oxygen cylinders. India is working on a war footing to strengthen its medical infrastructure ie hospitals, improve supply chain hurdles, and install oxygen plants. The hospitals in cities are already over-stretched and operating far in excess of their capacity. In rural India the situation is much worse, it is thus imperative to provide the funding & infrastructure support to establishments working in the countryside.

NRIs can connect with reputable NGOs in the countries of their residence and accordingly channelize appropriate assistance.

3. Social Media to spread awareness & cut the misinformation clutter
It is heart warming to see young IT professionals & students using Social Media to spread COVID related awareness and cut the misinformation clutter. Many NRIs have also joined their Indian counterparts and have leveraged social media networks to update city-wise COVID related resources on availability of hospital rooms, oxygen and medicines on Twitter, Facebook and other social networking website. Some have even created apps, Google sheets and Telegram alerts about vaccination & medical equipment updates. These are very useful props.

In this digital age, anyone can contribute by spreading awareness. One can simply make a small video about how breathing exercises help improve oxygen levels or record their own COVID recovery journey to instill confidence in patients.

4. Free online sessions
Professionals can come together to offer free online sessions for different causes. NRI doctors are offering online consultation for mild to moderate symptoms and helping to reduce hospital visitations. Further, as there has been a sharp psycho, social & mental health fallout on the patients’ families and children, helplines have been built to support & connect the needy with required support groups. Community services are taking care of doorstep delivery of daily meals and essential supplies for COVID affected families.

5.Stay confident & believe in a turnaround
As a nation, we’ve been through several highs & lows. India’s priorities and unpreparedness is indeed very hurtful. However, in difficult times, it is most important to maintain a positive mindset. Therefore, regularly discuss with your friends wherever you are now living, and also foster an encouraging interface with family in India.

As Indians, we have united to fight the virus. With God’s grace, we will be hale & hearty much sooner than we can today visualize.