IMPACT SYNERGISES EFFORTS FOR FLOOD RELIEF

Impact was lauded for its unprecedented efforts in galvanising medical aid for flood affected areas in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra State. At the presentation of Impact’s Report to the Government on Friday, September 23, at Mantralaya (the State Government’s headquarters) Mr. R. M. Premkumar the State Chief Secretary said, “At the outset let me thank Impact for its tremendous response to the flood–affected. I must salute the deep dedication that Impact India has shown in this type of crisis. It is no easy task to get U.S.$ 15 million worth of medicines across continents but you had the dedication to see this done and that is where the true spirit of humanity comes out. You had the wherewithal to pursue and all this was done in time.”

Speaking on the occasion, in the presence of senior Government officials and representatives of Non Government Organisations (NGOs), Impact India’s Chairman, Mr. A. H. Tobaccowala, who presented Impact’s Report to the State, said, “The Report underscores the extremely difficult task that Impact had undertaken beyond its scope of work in an unplanned, uncharted field. It refers to the many problems in the effective distribution of the medicines primarily through the Public Health System.” He stated, “Impact India which has been very active in Maharashtra, continues to vigorously pursue its presence in its on going Disability Reduction Project in Thane District covering a million persons mostly tribals in Palghar, Dahanu, Talasari, Jawhar and Mokhada.”

Mr. A.H. Tobaccowala, Chairman, Impact India Foundation (IIF), presenting the Report on the distribution of medicines donated by AmeriCares to Mr. R.M. Premkumar, Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra. Also seen is Ms. Zelma Lazarus, CEO, Impact India Foundation

On 26th July 2005, the monsoon rains were unprecedented in the State of Maharashtra, India. The metro city of Mumbai itself broke every record and received 939 mm rainfall in 24 hours. Nearly 500 people lost their lives. Several other parts of the State, also received a similar deluge. The large volume of rain in a short span of time caused flooding, landslides and damage to land and property.

Flood waters contaminated drinking water sources like hand pumps and wells, making the water unfit for consumption causing diarrhoea, dysentery, chills, fever and skin infections in the flood-affected population. Uncleared garbage and bodies of dead animals made the situation even worse. There was a clear risk of epidemics like cholera, typhoid, malaria, dengue and leptospirosis. It became essential to ensure safe drinking water and control the spread of diseases in order to prevent a second disaster following the floods.

Immediately after the floods in Mumbai, AmeriCares, USA, a non-profit humanitarian aid organization, entrusted to Impact the distribution of essential medicines for the flood-affected people of Maharashtra. AmeriCares took quick action in air freighting the medical aid, valued in the USA at $ 15 million, to Impact from their warehouses in New York, Holland and Singapore. The aid received comprised: a third generation Broad Spectrum Antibiotic - 4,760,640 tablets, Anti-diarrohea - 720,000 tablets, Water Purification sachets -1,135,200 sachets and a WHO Emergency Health Kit.

Impact lost no time in calling a meeting of the State Government including the Thane Collectorate, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and some NGOs for distribution of the medicines to the flood affected areas. As with all their projects, Impact committed to AmeriCares that the drugs would not be sold, the distribution monitored and that a full report would be presented to them. Green Earth Social Development Consulting Pvt. Ltd., a Pune based consultancy, was retained to monitor and evaluate the programme.