SWAG ERT, Sood Foundation open oxygen centre in Mangaluru

MANGALURU: SWAG ERT and Sood Charity Foundation of actor Sonu Sood, opened a rapid oxygen centre at the government railway police (GRP) station at Mangaluru Central railway station.
A launching ceremony and training session for policemen from the Mangaluru GRP station was held at the Central railway station on Thursday. SWAG ERT director Amit Purohit said the Mangaluru GRP Station will function as a rapid oxygen centre for critical and emergency Covid-19 cases.
“We will cater to the needs of patients within an 80 km radius from the centre. In difficult times of Covid-19, this centre will serve as a blessing for Mangaluru, and all nearby areas. Trained personnel from the Mangaluru GRP station will supply and install medical oxygen for emergency and critical patients, free-of-cost,” he said.
It is the fourth project of the SWAG ERT and Sood Charity Foundation in Karnataka. Other centres are functional in Bengaluru, Ballari and Hubballi. Meanwhile, the service will also be extended to Mysuru, Hassan and Davanagere soon. Training has been given to policemen on how to operate the Type B and Type D oxygen cylinders, that carry 7,000l and 1,400l of medical oxygen, respectively. The Mangaluru centre has already provided 20 cylinders, and based on the requirement, the number of cylinders will be increased. Oxygen supply will be purely on the basis of advice from the doctors, he said.
Those in critical condition in home isolation or hospital, may dial the Sonu Sood Karnataka Helpline number-7069999961. The analysis team of the helpline will immediately confirm the requirement, and ensure supply through the centre. People may also walk-in to the GRP station in Mangaluru, to get oxygen directly. Beneficiaries must return the cylinders after sanitising it properly, he said, adding that the project was started in Mangaluru, under the mentorship of GRP Karnataka police ADGP Bhaskar Rao.
SWAG ERT director Ajay Pratap Singh said, “While the corporate world of bike rentals was not operational during the pandemic, SWAG Bikes took the onus to ensure it stands tall with the Covid-19 crisis, and to ensure that all its resources are utilised for rapid logistics of critical oxygen supply through its large fleet of bikes and trucks. SWAG ERT and Sood Charity Foundation has already done many oxygen rescue operations in the state, he added.