From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, May 12: Deputy Chief Minister and Head of Covid Task Force on Wednesday launched the Ola-GiveIndia O2ForIndia Initiative for free supply of oxygen concentrators at the doorsteps of Covid patients within 30 minutes.
Ola Foundation and GiveIndia Foundation are joint partners in the initiative initially launched in Malleswaram and Koramangala areas and will soon be expanded throughout the City besides places where Ola Cab service is operational.
“The free supply of oxygen cylinders will be given only for those whose oxygen saturation is below 94. This will not be given to those whose oxygen level as above 94,’’ Dr Narayan said.
The service is rolled out in Bengaluru with an initial set of 500 oxygen concentrators.
Ola and GiveIndia will scale up the initiative across the country with up to 10,000 concentrators in the coming weeks, Dr Narayan said.
He said those who require oxygen with saturation below 94 need to log into the Ola app and request for an oxygen concentrator by providing a few basic details.
Once submitted, the request will be validated and Ola will then pick up the concentrator via one of its cabs with a specially trained driver and bring it to the doorstep of those who placed request within 30 minutes.
The home isolated beneficiary shall have to pay a refundable amount of Rs 5000 per concentrator.
Once the patient has gotten better and no longer requires the concentrator, Ola will pick the device back up and return it to GiveIndia to get it ready for the next patient who needs it. This entire service process will be seamless and the oxygen concentrator as well as the doorstep delivery and pickup will be completely free.
Expressing gratitude for the cooperation extended by the State Government, Gaurav Porwal, Chief Operating Officer, Ola, said: “We thank the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Ashwathnarayan for extending Karnataka Government's support to our "O2forIndia" initiative in partnership with GiveIndia.’’
“We are beginning in Bengaluru today and will be rolling this out across the country with up to 10,000 concentrators soon. We hope this will bring much needed support and relief to those in need,’’ he said.
K P Vinod, Managing Director of Alliances and Government Partnerships, GiveIndia, said: “Through this initiative, we will provide oxygen concentrators to those recovering or isolating at home, right at their doorstep. We hope the easier access to oxygen will ease the distress of many patients.’’
Raghavendra Beluru, Chairperson, Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation who was instrumental in coordinating with Ola and GiveIndia was present.
Online registration for Second dose of Vaccine
The Deputy Chief Minister said every day 1 lakh vaccine doses are being kept reserved for administering second dose and online registration for second dose will be introduced to avoid queuing up near the vaccine centers.
Replying to a query after the launch of O2forIndia initiative, he said: “Administering second dose of vaccine for those above 45 years is done on priority basis. About 70% of the vaccines are being utilized for administering second dose. The technical committee has been requested to consider about extending the duration of administering the second dose.”
He said care for those who are in home isolation for Covid infection will be given priority and there is enough stock of 5 lakh home isolation kits and there was no shortage for RTPCR kits and RAT kits.
To cut down the delay in issuing results, priority will be given for the testing of symptomatic cases and primary contacts.
The tests for non-symptomatic patients will be discouraged and triaging will be augmented, he said.