Covid 19: Coca-Cola India distributes PPE kit among Karnataka health workers

Karnataka, 8th July 2020: In a bid to provide relief to front line workers from COVID-19 virus, Coca Cola in India has partnered with United Way Mumbai and NGO Samarthanam Trust to distribute PPE and hygiene kits among in Karnataka.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the company said that PPE and hygiene aid kits were distributed amongst frontline warriors in Karnataka to help them fight against the spread of coronavirus.  This drive was initiated at 7 Minister Quarters, Bangalore, in the presence of eminent state dignitaries,  B. Sriramulu, Minister for Health and Family Welfare & Backward Classes Welfare in the Government of Karnataka, Dean and Directors of Victoria and CV Raman General Hospitals and Shri Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar, Founder Managing Trustee, Samarthanam Trust. Through this distribution, 1200 healthcare workers, 8000 sanitation workers, 2050 police personnel and 1100 community health workers will be benefitted in Karnataka.

Commenting on the initiative, Ishteyaque Amjad, Vice-President, Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability, Coca-Cola India and South West Asia said, "We are humbled to collaborate with our partner United Way Mumbai in providing support to the health and safety of the country’s frontline warriors. We are hopeful that with collective efforts and resilience, we will be able to steer ourselves out of these testing times."

Adding further,  Jayanti Shukla, Chief Executive Officer, United Way Mumbai said, "The rapid spread of the virus has left doctors, nurses and other frontline workers with inadequate access to the protective equipment, necessary to defend themselves. In such testing times, it’s important to ensure their personal safety and safeguard their health so our citizens can continue to receive the care and support that they need."

Coca-Cola India has partnered with United Way Mumbai to augment healthcare initiatives in 48 public hospitals across eight states in the country. Apart from large-scale support to public hospitals and healthcare workers, the partnership has also committed to serving 65000+ public service personnel such as sanitation workers, police staff and community health workers across the nation. This initiative is a part of Coca-Cola’s commitment of INR 100 crores towards helping the healthcare system and communities to combat the crisis and contain the spread of the pandemic.

The initial phase of the relief program is being rolled out in eight critically affected states including Maharashtra (Mumbai, Pune), Delhi, Tamil Nadu (Chennai), Karnataka (Bengaluru), Telangana (Hyderabad), Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana, said the statement.