Amid an atmosphere of ‘hopelessness’ created by covid-19, few foundations and pharmaceutical companies in Srinagar are turning Good Samaritan: they are providing free services and medicine as well.
Help Poor Voluntary Trust (HPVT), an NGO has announced a “detailedplan” to support Kashmir fight covid-19. Apart from providing free medicalfacilities to its registered patients, the foundation has decided to providemedical facilities on no-profit basis to general masses.
“We have ensured the availability of ten ambulancesincluding critical care ambulances in Kashmir. We have also opened a medicalshop in Darish Kadal that is adjacent to Safa Kadal where medicines areprovided at discounted as well as on no-profit basis. We will also make surethe availability of a diagnostic and collection lab at concession rates forgeneral masses and free for the poor,” said Farooq Ahmad Bhat, founder, HPVT.
“Taking into consideration the present circumstances, wehave started dissemination of public safety tips through loudspeakers invarious areas of Srinagar and outside. We are stressing on awareness aboutsocial distancing and other related issues,” he said
While moving out from homes during the lockdown is a bigchallenge in itself, ’24×7 Pharmacy’ at Solina, Srinagar has started aninitiative of free delivery of medicines at doorsteps of people.
“If people come out of homes for purchasing medicines, thegatherings would be huge and unsafe so the initiative is for the safety of all.We make sure that our delivery is totally safe. All our delivery executivescarry hand sanitizers, masks and gloves wherever they go for service. Itminimizes the risk of coronavirus spread,” said Junaid Bhat, owner 24*7Pharmacy.
“We have written to the administration as well aboutproviding free medicines to the people living below poverty line. This timealso if people call me for discounts, I do provide them because this is nottime to think about profit. Human lives matter and we are providing a helpinghand,” he said
The initiative by Farooq Ahmad and Junaid Bhat has beenappreciated by the locals. “We saw panic buyers emptying shelves of stores andleaving almost nothing for others to buy. People like Junaid and Farooq havecome as a ray of hope,” said Javaid Ahmad, a local