MedStar Foundation donated over $1.4 million worth of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and two CPAP machines to Sewa International on Friday, July 9 in an event held at the Foundation’s warehouse in Hyattsville, Maryland. The PPE received by Sewa include N-95 equivalent masks, face shields, gloves, goggles, and full length PP attire.
Ed Robinson, MedStar Health’s Vice President of Integrated Support Operations, presented the PPE material to the Maryland Chapter Coordinator of Sewa International Dr. Anita Roy. Dr. Siva Subramanian, Indian American community leader from Washington DC, and pediatric cardiologist at the Georgetown Medical Center acted as liaison between MedStar and Sewa International. Right after the event, the donated material was sent from Hyattsville, MD to Sewa International’s Atlanta, GA warehouse in seven 18-wheeler trucks.
“We saw some of the challenges caused by the shortages of PPE in the rest of the world and we had some surplus PPE in or system. We thought it would be great if we could donate it to some other relief efforts that are going on. I thank Dr. Siva for connecting Sewa with MedStar and we wish Sewa the best and appreciate the work they are doing,” Ed Robinson said, speaking at the event.
Largest in-kind Donation
“This is the largest in-kind Medical equipment donation Sewa has received from a hospital system in the US. Sewa is sending the PPE to Trinidad and Tobago and to a few countries in South America which are experiencing the second wave of COVID-19 cases. The CPAP machines will go to India,” said Prof. Sree Sreenath, former president of Sewa International, who was present at the event.
Dr. Siva Subramanian, speaking at the event, said the PPE will help patients as well as frontline COVID-19 workers such as physicians, police officers, firefighters, and healthcare workers to stay safe while they strive to stop the spread of the pandemic. Dr. Anita Roy, who received the PPE on behalf of Sewa, thanked MedStar for their donation and said that Sewa International would put the PPE to great use. Volunteers from Sewa‘s Maryland and Washington DC chapters were present at the event.
About Sewa International
Sewa International (www.sewausa.org) is a 501 (c)(3) Hindu faith-based charitable nonprofit that works in the areas of disaster recovery, education, and development. Sewa has 43 Chapters across the USA and serves regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin.
