Oxygen for Nepal - Covid Relief
URGENT FUNDS NEEDED FOR OXYGEN IN NEPAL
As many of you have been hearing in the news these past days, the COVID situation in India is at crisis level. Sadly, this is having a proportionately equal effect on Nepal, as they share a border and many families have members in both countries, and borders are near impossible to close down.
We have received word from our Lumbini family (just 7 miles from the India border) that the current situation there is extremely difficult. COVID numbers this week are 137% higher in Nepal than just last week. Healthcare facilities countrywide are stretched beyond capacity and are unable to take in new patients. Lifesaving medical equipment is unavailable.
Most critical is the desperate need for oxygen. Currently Lumbini has only 18 oxygen cylinders; this needs to increase to at least 50 to match the level of positive Covid-19 cases occurring.
In the first days of this campaign our focus was on O2 sets for $325: (A full Oxygen Set Up includes (USD):One 49-liter Oxygen (O2) Cylinder $170, One set O2 Regulator + O2 Facemask $ 70, One Oxygen pulse meter (pulse oximeter)$ 25, TOTAL SET UP COST$265 ($325CAD). With this set up they can refill the empty cylinder for $50
We now have added focus on O2 and clean drinking water for hospitals and food for the overworked staff (the government is now feeding the patients). In addition to this we are working to secure some hospital beds with backs that raise. The floor for patients who cannot breathe increases their oxygen demand and adds difficulty in even getting a breath (as someone who has been hospitalized for asthma literally ccountless times I can attest to this.) See the May 12 update on our latest efforts and news out of Nepal.
Our Lumbini team in conjunction with the local municipality has converted a hotel into a Covid hospital to help provide more treatment facilities for the burdened healthcare system.
Canadian Engaged Buddhism’s Association (CEBA) and partner One Child’s Village (OCV) are reaching out to all our friends, family, and long-time supporters for any assistance you can offer at this time to raise funds for as many OXYGEN SET UPs as possible. Your help is also appreciate in sharing this GoFundMe campaign far and wide on FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter, Email, LinkedIn, etc.
I want to assure our donors all funds received go directly where they're needed with no paid staff or overhead. My son, Venerable Metteyya lives and works in Lumbini region and is working on the ground with our long-time, dedicated team of volunteers coordinating, sourcing and ensuring speedy delivery to those in need. For those generous donors who don't know us personally, we have been carrying out humanitarian work in the region for nearly 2 decades, I go there annually (pre-covid) for extended periods, and we know the community personally (my son was born and raised there until I adopted him.)
We will be updating you regularly on the situation. Thank you as always for your generous support, even as we navigate our own challenges here. May you continue to stay safe and healthy.
OCV and CEBA
Bodhi (and Todd and our teams!
PS- additionally donations can be made directly at the OCV Canada-Helps link below and choosing CEBA in the project recipient drop down list. Please contact me at [email redacted] . com (type it into a new email. do not copy and paste it as spaces were added to protect my email address from spammers.)
