The second wave of Covid brought with it an immense deficit in medical resources and facilities that the government could not cope with. Hysterical masses scourged their social networks to find oxygen cylinders, hospital beds, and Remedisvier for the Covid treatment of their loved ones.
Amidst this chaos caused by overburdened hospitals and lacking supplies, the social media population rose to the occasion to offer a helping hand. Students created volunteer groups while influencers and celebrities began utilising their vast reach. Such sharing of requests based on credibility also helped lessen the dependence on fake or unverified leads.
“We try to ensure that anyone who approaches us with a request, either from within the team or from Instagram, get a source or lead. If we absolutely cannot find anything, which is once in a while, we put up a post on Instagram so that other people can help us,” said Sumaiyya, a co-creator of ‘Covid Resources India’, a student volunteer group co-created by Sumaiyya and Bhargavi, students of VIT University. It has around 3,000 followers on Instagram and has helped scores of people to amplify their requests all over India.
Another similar account is ‘Co-help Covid Resources’ which is run by students at Christ University.
Within their group, there are four essential functions – data collection and entry, formatting, verification/reverification and social media and emergency. Their account features several amplification requests via posts, Q&A about medical support requests from followers, and information on all available resources.
“Volunteering is extremely exhausting, mentally and emotionally. Especially as we work so close to desperation and death. When you look at the sheets and don’t see any green leads amongst a multitude of reds and yellows, it can be very upsetting,” added CRI’s Sumaiyya.
Influencers with a significant number of followers like stand-up comedian Kenny Sebastian and Bangalore-based entrepreneur Varun Agarwal used Instagram amplify requests from their followers. Varun Agarwal used his platform to raise funds for low-income families who were affected by Covid and recently urged his followers to buy the Oriental Insurance Company’s Corona Kavach Policy for any low income person they know.
Amongst celebrities offering a helping hand on social media, Sonu Sood is the most recent and significant. A few days ago, he helped arrange an oxygen cylinder for CSK batsman Suresh Raina’s aunt in Meerut. Now, the Dabangg actor has stepped up to help KKR spinner Harbhajan Singh to supply a Remdesivir injection after the cricketer took to Twitter to amplify his request. “They pass on verified leads; help amplify requests and also follow up to check if we’ve gotten leads.They always give a direction on where to look,” said Priyankaa Pitcheshwar, a beneficiary of one such account. In her search for resources for her mutual friends, social media stepped in to aid her in every way possible.
As Covid patients and their family members lose the luxury of time, cutting through red tape to find medical facilities and support is unfavourable. In such a situation, crowdsourcing resources, funds and information about beds and oxygen availability has saved time and lives.
