04/23/2021
My dear AAPI colleagues,
In the past week, we have been receiving nothing but mind numbing news from the other side of the world, in India, the land of our birth for most of us. The statistics are chilling - India currently accounts for 36% of the global COVID-19 numbers. It has confirmed 15.6 million cases, and 182,553 deaths so far. It has shown a shocking spike of a triple variant second wave with more than 3,00,000 positive cases each day for many days, and, worst of all, a death rate of more than 2,000 per day, with a number of children now being affected. There could not be a worse nightmare. This is a far cry from the picture a few months ago, which depicted the virus to be on the decline, and India on the rising curve to economic prosperity.
Furthermore, it with total disbelief that we are witnessing the situation now, where medical transport to the hospitals are overwhelmed and delayed with deadly consequences, where the hospitals are overflowing with patients, with reception areas and foyers being converted to make shift wards. Even the dead await long delays at crematoriums and cemeteries for decent last rites.
What is particularly painful and frightening, is the sudden widespread intense shortage of the basic commodity we take for granted at all levels of management of this deadly disease, both at home, in an ambulance or at the health care facility — that of OXYGEN.
This is the time for immediate AAPI action. As doctors, we all share a visceral urge to do something about it.
I have located a source manufacturer that supplies a Concentrated Oxygen unit, each of which can save four lives in India. The cost of each unit is minuscule - only $ 500.00. The Indian Embassy and Consulates have been extremely helpful, and will assist in the rapid shipping and customs regulations of these lifesaving units. There is no time to lose.
The AAPI Executive Committee, the Board of Trustees, and the AAPI Charitable Foundation are working to get the initial order of one hundred units immediately, to jump start our response.
But the need is far more. I strongly urge each AAPI member to please rise to this catastrophic occasion, and make your pledges for one two or more units immediately.
You may contact Ms. Vijaya Kodali at the AAPI office at 630 990 2277. Payment may be made by credit card, or by Zelle ( AAPI registered account - [email protected] ). Your generosity will be acknowledged on the AAPI website.
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With best wishes and warm regards,
Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, M.D.
President, AAPI
