A surgeon at Airedale Hospital is working with Rotary clubs in Ilkley Wharfedale and Bangalore to support medics in India as they deal with the overwhelming numbers of coronavirus patients.

Mr Raj Rao, a consultant surgeon at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust who is originally from Bangalore, has set up a GoFundMe page with the aim of raising £250,000 to buy essential medical equipment such as pulse oximeters, oxygen concentrators and CPAP machines.  Typically, a pulse oximeter costs around £50, an oxygen concentrator around £2000 and a CPAP machine around £1000.

“I have lost a number of my own close relatives to Covid and I know many others have lost their near and dear ones too due to lack of proper advice and timely access to medical care,” explains Mr Rao. 

“India has selflessly helped the world with vaccination supplies and it needs our help now.  The equipment we are seeking to fund is essential to help care for patients who are desperately ill.  It could mean the difference between life and death.”

The funding will also support a virtual helpline from experts in the UK to support Covid victims in health camps to avoid admission into already overstretched hospitals.

Mr Rao adds: “We have an ambitious target, but every donation helps and I hope people will feel able to donate something, however small”.

The Rotary Club of Ilkley Wharfedale is involved in the further development of this initiative. 

You can donate to the Help India Covid-19 fund via https://uk.gofundme.com/f/help-india-covid19-crisis