VELLORE: The Australian Consulate-General will be joining hands with India in its fight against the fatal second wave of COVID-19. The institute has announced its support to Christian Medical College Hospital (CMCH), Vellore, to set up additional beds. It will also assist CabDost, a social enterprise, in feeding the needy in south India.
According to the official statement, the Australian Consulate will provide around Rs 15 lakh to help CMCH set up a 12-bedded ICU facility. The funding is to cover procurement, installation, and commissioning of essential equipment including food pumps, a defibrillator and an ECG machine. The Consulate is set to provide Rs 8 lakh to CabDost to help them provide food kits, financial coaching and tax filing support to needy families in south India, especially Tamil Nadu, over a two-month period.
As comprehensive strategic partners, Australia has committed to provide critical support to India worth around Rs 210 crore. Moreover, Australia has sent over 30 tonnes worth of medical supplies, including 3000 ventilators and 250 oxygen concentrators to India.