Mumbai, October 8th 2021, Friday: NGO Vision Rescue contributed 50,000 N-95 masks to the Mumbai police at a handover ceremony at the Office of the Additional Commissioner of Police, Bandra West, yesterday morning. One lakh N-95 masks were donated to the non-profit Vision Rescue by a Sydney donor and were flown to India free of cost by Cathay Pacific airlines.

                            50,000 of these N-95 masks were handed over by Mr. Biju Thampy, founder Vision Rescue, to the Additional Commissioner of Police Sandeep Karnik on October 8th, 2021. Sunita Sanghvi, Cathay Pacific’s Cargo Account Manager, & Dr. Abraham Mathai, founder & chairman Harmony Foundation and former Vice-Chairman of the Minority Commission, were also present at the event. Another 50,000 N-95 masks have been donated by NGO Vision Rescue to the following Covid-19 hospitals and health posts:  JJ Hospital, Sion Hospital, G.T hospital, Shivaji Nagar Health Post, Maharashtra Nagar Health Post, Mandala Health post, Kalwa Health post.

                             Speaking at the handover event on Friday, Additional Commissioner of Police Sandeep Karnik said, “On behalf of the Mumbai Police, I’d like to thank Vision Rescue for donating 50,000 masks to Mumbai Police. I would also like to thank Cathay Pacific for making it possible to get the masks all the way from Australia to Mumbai and I would like to thank Mr. Abraham Mathai for organizing and coordinating this.”

                              Ms. Sunita, added, “It was our pleasure and honor to carry these masks all the way from Sydney to Mumbai. When we heard from Mr. Thampy that these masks were going to be given to the government hospitals and to the Mumbai police we were happy that he approached us to be a part of this initiative.”

                                At the ceremony, Mr. Biju said, “This is a responsibility of every citizen to really show gratitude to the police department because our policemen and women are working day and night for the protection of each one of us and I believe it’s only a very normal gesture that we think about their protection and their safety, and it’s the responsibility of every citizen. I urge every citizen to do something to show their gratitude to this amazing force who work day and night for our protection. It has been Vision Rescue’s honour to partner with Cathay Pacific airlines for the benefit of Mumbai Police during the pandemic.”

                                In the last 1.5 years of the pandemic, Vision Rescue has reached out to vulnerable communities in 14 states across India freely distributing grocery kits for over 2 million meals and over 76,988 pieces of protective gear to 14 Covid-19 hospitals, police stations and municipal corporation offices. The 50,000 N-95 masks now donated to hospitals and health posts, from Sydney, is in addition to the aid earlier distributed.

                               “As we all know, Covid-19 pandemic has hit us very badly since last year. We have successfully combatted two waves. We are thankful to NGOs those who have helped us fight against this pandemic, particularly Vision Rescue. They have helped us with N95 masks, surgical masks, 3-ply masks, sanitizers and they are always there in support of us standing hand in hand in fighting this pandemic. We appreciate their efforts,” said Dr. Ghanshyam Ahuja, Deputy Dean, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, Sion Mumbai.