PPE Supplies for India

India is facing its highest surge in COVID cases since it was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). During its first peak in September 2020, India faced around 1,100 reported deaths daily. Most recently, the second wave devastated India with approx 4,000 deaths daily during the second wave that peaked in May 2021. During this time, the healthcare system’s resources were stretched thin as many sought care at hospitals and local clinics. Equipment that would administer higher levels of oxygen became more scarce as many citizens required it to fight against the deadly virus. PPE began coming into short supply as many more citizens became more infected and healthcare workers needed the protective equipment to prevent the spread of COVID. The government would then ban the export of PPE to help address the shortage of PPE in their within their own country.

In New York City, the first wave of COVID hit March 2020 and overwhelmed the healthcare system. Our role at The Black 6 Project, was to gather volunteers to help assemble PPE and deliver it to healthcare facilities facing this shortage. Our volunteers worked around the clock putting together face shields in their own homes and driving through the streets of New York City to meet with healthcare managers to deliver the PPE. Because of this, we understand the crisis of trying to support an overrun healthcare system.

Through the help of multiple donors of PPE, we will be sending PPE to India to help the country in its fight to reduce its cases of COVID-19 infections. Thanks to a generous donation of PPE by NYU Langone, many healthcare workers can help protect themselves while treating patients infected by the highly contagious virus. Our plans to send off this large shipment of PPE (approximately 111 pallets full) at the end of August will be received by the Ministry of Health of Kerala. Kerala, a southern state of India, was the first to identify the country’s first COVID-19 patient back in January 2020. It currently leads India with an average of infections per day at approx 16,000 daily cases as of July 27, 2021.

Getting the PPE to India is no easy feat. The Black 6 Project needs your help in funding the shipping costs of the PPE to India. We are currently fundraising to reach a goal of $20,000 to cover the costs of the shipment and to send a small team of volunteers from Black 6 to India to assist in the arrival and distribution of the PPE supplies. To donate, please click the donate button below or visit our PPE for India fundraising page.