Maritime welfare charity Sailors’ Society has successfully distributed 5,000 Covid Care Kits, helping over 26,000 Indian seafarers and their families in the fight against Covid-19.
The charity is also providing support to local seafaring communities in India via a 24/7 paramedic-led helpline.
The project was established in response to India’s latest deadly wave of Covid-19 and funded by a grant of nearly £160,000 from the Seafarers’ International Relief Fund, with additional support from The Seafarers’ Charity.
Now, due to the success of the project, Sailors’ Society will be replicating the support model in Covid-hit seafaring communities in the Philippines this autumn, with the support of a second grant from The Seafarers’ International Relief Fund.
We are so pleased to have been able to provide this support and to be there for so many seafarers and their families during this devastating latest wave in India. Many families have a real need for basic medicines and advice about how to recognise and respond to Covid symptoms and we’re glad to have been able to provide that for them
Sara Baade, Sailors’ Society’s CEO, stated.
Ms. Baade also addedthat this preventative support has the added impact of reducing hospital numbers so that already pressured services are not totally overwhelmed.
What is more, Seafarer Raghu, who used the kit to monitor his temperature and oxygen levels as he quarantined from loved ones and colleagues, said:
I am very happy to have this kit. It is very helpful and very important to our recovery
Each care pack contains enough basic medicine and vitamins for a family of five, a digital thermometer, a pulse oximeter for monitoring oxygen levels, face masks, hand sanitiser and an information leaflet.
The dedicated helpline will run for 12 months and is available for anyone worried that they have contracted Covid-19 or who would like professional medical advice.
