COVID-19: Samsung and Vivo Pledge Aid Worth Rs. 47 Crore

On Tuesday, electronics giant Samsung and phonemaker Vivo have pledged to contribute Rs 37 crore and Rs 10 crore for the fight against COVID-19, respectively.

Samsung's COVID-19 Aid

Samsung said it has pledged Rs 37 crore for COVID-19 relief. Out of this, Rs 22 crore will go to the Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The rest Samsung plans to pledge to provide medical supplies. These include 100 Oxygen Concentrators, 3,000 Oxygen Cylinders and one million LDS syringes.

These syringes minimize the drug wastage and optimize delivery. These syringes limit the amount of drug left in the device after injection. Existing delivery equipment has a lot of leftover vaccine, which leads to wastage. Samsung noted that LDS syringes have 20% greater efficiency. This means that with the same amount of vaccine, 20% more doses can be delivered.

For example, if there is enough vaccine for current syringes to deliver 1 lakh doses, LDS syringes can deliver up to 1.2 lakh doses. Samsung has helped the manufacturer of these syringes increase production capacity, it said.

Furthermore, the company will cover the vaccination costs for over 50,000 eligible employees and beneficiaries in India. The company aims to do so as and when vaccine doses become available.

Notably, this will also include all Samsung Experience Consultants, who work at electronics retail stores across the country.

Vivo's COVID-19 Aid

Vivo talked about its initiative called 'vivoCares' in a statement. It said that the company “has undertaken several initiatives to help out those in need during this devastating second wave of COVID-19".

"vivo will donate oxygen concentrators worth INR 6 crores that will be distributed to various government hospitals to support the COVID relief measures,” Vivo said in a statement.

Furthermore, the company has partnered with ISKCON. Together, they will distribute 1,00,000 free cooked meals at the doorsteps of COVID-19 stricken patients and families in Gurgaon.

Also, they have partnered with The Akshaya Patra Foundation. Vivo plans to give out 'Happiness Kits' for all 500+ students of a government school for six months in Delhi. This program will support nutrition through food items, education through books and stationery, and hygiene through daily essentials.

Along with this, Vivo has also pledged to donate 2 ambulances fitted with cardio-ventilator machines.