Goa: Citizens bridge gap between those in need of oximeters and donors

PANAJI: Citizens in the state are running from one pharmacy to another to buy oximeters. With these devices, used to measure oxygen saturation level, in short supply, good Samaritans have stepped forward to bridge the gap and have volunteered to collect used oximeters from recovered patients and provide them to those in home-isolation.
Students of Don Bosco College have created a document on Google Forms using which those owning oximeters can submit their details and offer their devices. Based on this inventory, the students will collect the oximeters and then deliver them to those in need.
“There is a shortage of oximeters to such an extent that home isolation kits are being distributed without them. We are willing to personally deliver these to home isolated patients and to hospitals if required,” one of the students involved in the initiative, computer engineering student Shivam Naik said.
Similarly, another group of youngsters have also created a Google Forms document appealing to people to revert with these devices so that they could donate them to those in need.
Gabriella Periera, whose family owns a chain of supercenters in the state, took to social media to appeal to recovered patients and their families to drop off their oximeters at any of her outlets.
“I had two oximeters at home and so assumed that there would be many like me who would have them but no longer require them. If people are happy to buy and donate, we would be extremely grateful, but if people do have extras at home, we would urge them to give them up so that we can donate them to PHCs, doctors and needy patients,” she said.
Rotary Clubs across the state have also put their hands together to use their manpower to collect and distribute used oximeters.
“There is a dire need of oximeters and we will give them to IMA doctors and simultaneously procure new ones so that we can provide them to people. Once they are done using the devices, they can return them to us, so that we can then pass them on to the next patient in need,” a Vasco club member Salil Kosambe said.