Walmart on Friday said that it would use its global resources to expand support for Covid-19 relief efforts in India. The company, along with its associates Flipkart, PhonePe and others, will work to counter the severe oxygen shortages in the country, support the vaccination drives, and donate to NGOs working to support communities amid the devastating second wave of Covid-19.
“Walmart is a global family. We feel the impact of this devastating surge on our associates, families and friends across India, and it’s important that we come together to support however we can,” said Doug McMillon, President and CEO of Walmart Inc.
The company said its businesses across the globe are looking to procure oxygen concentrators and other equipment India needs. It said it will donate 20 oxygen generating plants and 20 cryogenic containers for storage and transportation of oxygen to hospitals and NGOs.
The company also pledged to donate 3,000 oxygen concentrators and 500 oxygen cylinders to India, in addition to funding 2,500 oxygen concentrators as part of the US-India Business Council and US-India Strategic Partnership Forum’s joint relief efforts, it added.
The Walmart Foundation will also donate $2 million to NGOs in India, including Doctors for You, to operate isolation centres and temporary hospitals, and the GIVE Foundation’s Covid response fund, which is supporting vulnerable communities with medical equipment.
Flipkart and PhonePe have set up clinics to provide vaccines at no cost to their associates and their families, full-time contractors and delivery associates. This adds up to over 200,000 people, the company said.
“We and our colleagues at PhonePe are committed to doing our bit to help people in this challenging time, leveraging our logistics capabilities and mobilising resources towards the most critical needs of patients and healthcare professionals,” said Kalyan Krishnamurthy, chief executive of Flipkart.
Walmart is the latest in a slew of large US companies that have announced relief efforts for India’s Covid battle.
Amazon said on Tuesday it would donate 100 ICU ventilator units to the Indian government, which it would import and airlift from the US. Apple chief executive Tim Cook also pledged support for India’s efforts. He said the company would make donations and aid relief efforts on the ground.
The previous day, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said he was devastated to see the worsening Covid crisis in India and pledged Rs 135 crore for medical supplies and support.
The same day Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella tweeted that he was “heartbroken” by the situation in India, adding, “Microsoft will continue to use its voice, resources, and technology to aid relief efforts, and support the purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices.”
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