Victoria HarkerWells Fargo & Company and United Health Care recently announced they are committing more than $4 million to help battle the devastation taking its toll on India from Covid-19.
As of Wednesday, India’s medical system continued to be under severe stress, recording 4,529 new covid-19 deaths over 24 hours, the highest daily toll of any country since the pandemic began.
To address the public health crisis, the two corporations are committing funding for a variety of critical needs, from oxygen equipment to portable 200-bed hospital units.
“It’s been heartbreaking to see the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in India,” said Bill Daley, Wells Fargo’s vice chairman of public affairs about the effort. “Our priority is to care for our employees and local communities in India.”
Wells Fargo sending $3 million to India for equipment needs
This month, Wells Fargo announced that it is committing more than $3 million through non-profit and other organizations to increase hospital capacity, supply oxygen concentrators and critical medical equipment, provide emergency transportation, and support health care workers.
“These grants can help nonprofits quickly provide much needed medical equipment and build capacity while providing care for those affected and support for healthcare professionals tirelessly working to save lives,” Daley said.
Grants will go to United Way agencies in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai; Nirmaan Organization; Akshaya Patra Foundation; Mantra Social Services; and NASSCOM Foundation.
The funding will aim to:
-Provide portable hospital annex units with 200 beds
-Deploy oxygen concentrators to hospitals
-Deliver COVID-19 isolation kits for people recovering at home
-Support ICU ambulances to help transport patients to hospitals
Wells Fargo has several offices in India, and the company has taken steps throughout the pandemic to help ensure the health and safety of its employees in India and globally through remote work and enhanced benefits.
Nearly all Wells Fargo employees in India are currently working remotely, and the company has been covering costs for COVID-19 testing and vaccines, as well as offering enhanced medical insurance coverage, COVID-19-related leave, and time away for vaccines.
Last year, the banking giant made a $1.5 million contribution to India to provide urgent assistance to the country’s most impacted communities, including health care workers, hard-hit and underserved citizens, seniors, and people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity, as well as government labs experiencing a shortage of equipment.
UnitedHealth Group announces $1 million for oxygen equipment
UnitedHealth Group also recently announced a $1 million contribution from United Health Foundation to fund more than 2,500 oxygen concentrators to address India’s nationwide shortage of oxygen as well as other critical medical equipment essential for treating severe COVID-19 infections.
The grant will be made through the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum and its affiliate foundation, the US-India Friendship Alliance. The oxygen concentrators will be delivered to Niti Aayog, the government of India’s planning arm, to ensure they are deployed to state hospitals where the need is significant.
In addition to the monetary contribution, UnitedHealth Group’s relief efforts in India have helped:
-Deploy health and safety kits and COVID-19 testing supplies
-Support for Optum team members based in Bangalore, Chennai Gurugram, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Noida
-Expand access to telehealth for more immediate and convenient medical consultation
“Since the onset of COVID-19, UnitedHealth Group has been committed to combating the pandemic’s impact on the communities where we live and work, while providing resources and support to ensure the safety and well-being of our team members,” said Laura Ciavola, president of Optum Global Advantage, a UnitedHealth Group business.
The two have donated $325 million for aid since Covid outbreak
To date, the two companies, which have a strong presence in Arizona, have committed more than $325 million worldwide to the Covid-19 effort.
Since the pandemic outbreak in 2020, Wells Fargo has made $225 million in philanthropic contributions for COVID-19. UnitedHealth Group has donated more than $100 million to support impacted communities worldwide.
Joseph Kavetsky
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