Political, social, religious bodies lend helping hand to Covid patients

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, May 20

As the second wave of Covid-19 continues to affect the health of people, several social, religious, political orgnaisations are lending a helping hand to overcome the crisis in the district. From tele-consultation to providing food, oxygen cylinders and oxygen concentrators to Covid-19 patients, organaising vaccination camps and donating blood, members of these organisations and political parties are leaving no stone unturned.

The BJP has started ‘rasoi’ (kitchen) service for home-isolated patients, while the Congress has initiated “Hello Doctor” helpline for Covid patients who can seek medical consultation. “We have started a ‘rasoi’ to provide food three times a day to patients and their attendants either at home or in the hospital or at any isolation ward,” said Yogender Rana, BJP district president. “We have also displayed three helpline numbers at every hospital,” he added.

Congress national secretary Virender Rathore said in the time of crisis, Congress workers under the guidance of state president Kumari Selja, state in-charge Vivek Bansal had launched a helpline number to provide any kind of medical assistance to patients on the phone. Around 20 doctors are providing medical consultation to the patients.

Meanwhile, Sewa Bharti, a wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is orgnanising vaccination camps and distributing food for home-isolated patients. “We have also established a control room with 28 doctors who are motivating Covid patients,” said Kapil Atreja, district convenor of Sewa Bharti, adding that they have deployed their team members in every dedicated Covid hospitals to assist the patients in any kind of need.

Volunteers of social organisation National Integrated Forum of Artists and Activists (NIFAA) are delivering door-to-door oxygen cylinders to those in need. Besides, it has also started Shri Guru Teg Bhadur Oxygen Sewa Kendra, under which NIFAA is providing oxygen concentrator to the needy. “We are doing this service with the help of Khalsa Aid and World Punjabi Organisation,” said Pritpal Pannu, chairperson NIFAA.

A team of MP Deepender Hooda led by Pankaj Gaba is holding blood donation camps and also distributing food at Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College. The management of the Radha Soami Satsang Bhawan has provided its premises to set up isolation centres at Taraori and Nigdhu, while Nirmal Kutia, a religious organisation, is providing food at various hospitals to the patients and their attendants. Nirankari Bhawan has also provided 25 oxygen concentrators, while Jain Mandir on Indri Road has set up an oxygen bank for the general public.

“It is a joint effort to combat the Covid crisis. I am happy that all are fighting unitedly to overcome the challenge,” said Nishant Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner.

All doing their bit

From tele-consultation to providing food, oxygen cylinders and oxygen concentrators to Covid-19 patients, organaising vaccination camps and donating blood, members of these organisations and political parties are leaving no stone unturned