As India is battling an unprecedented health crisis caused by second COVID-19 wave, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has donated ₹1 crore to procure oxygen concentrators.
India is reporting over 3 lakh COVID-19 cases for the last past week and the health infrastructure is struggling to cope with the crisis, failing to provide oxygen and crucial medicines to the infected patients.
"The second wave of Covid has put our health-care system under immense pressure. Providing oxygen for the large number of serious COVID patients is the need of the hour," Tendulkar wrote on his Twitter handle.
"It is heartening to see how people are rising to the occasion. A group of 250 young entrepreneurs have launched Mission Oxygen to raise funds for importing oxygen concentrators and donating them to hospitals across the country.
"I've helped by contributing to the cause and hope that their effort soon reaches out to many more hospitals across India. Today, we have to stand together behind everyone that is working hard to fight this pandemic."
"His donation of ₹1 crore to 'Mission Oxygen' in its endeavor to procure and provide life-saving oxygen concentrators to hospitals across the nation in this time of need is incredibly heart-warming," read a statement from Mission Oxygen, which is a fund-raising initiative by Delhi-NCR based entrepreneurs for importing Oxygen Concentrator machines.
Notably, Tendulkar was diagnosed positive for COVID-19 on March 27 and had to be hospitalised under medical advice.
The batting legend recently vowed to donate plasma when he becomes eligible for it. He also urged people who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their plasma, as the act can save other lives.
"I would like to give a message, which the doctors have told me to give. Last year, I had inaugurated a plasma donation centre and their message, if plasma is given at the right time, patients can recover faster. I personally, when permissible, will donate it and I have spoken to the doctors," Tendulkar had said in a video uploaded on his Twitter handle.
"And you all, who have recovered from COVID-19, consult your doctor and when permissible, please donate blood, it can reduce a lot of problems. We know what problems our family members, friends have, till we are unwell," he added.
(With PTI inputs)
