PepsiCo Foundation collaborates with SEEDS to set up COVID care centres, launch vaccination drive

Recently, PepsiCo Foundation, said it has united with a not-for-profit organization, Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS) to initiate a community COVID-19 vaccination drive and set up COVID care centers. Under the partnership, over 1 lakh vaccines doses will be provided to communities, to be administered during the local healthcare system, while five COVID care centers will be set up for three months that will be prepared with beds and medical facilities, including oxygen cylinders, PepsiCo India said in a statement.

Moreover, over 100 oxygen concentrators will be delivered to the Central government for distribution to various government hospitals across states. The entire community relief program will be rolled out across the country with a special focus on five states -- Maharashtra, Punjab, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana.

The Company states, "India is embattling the second wave of the pandemic and we all are facing a challenging situation. In these hard times, it becomes level extra significant for businesses to come together and partner with Centre and State Governments, civil society, NGOs, and healthcare institutions to support communities in need."

PepsiCo India President Ahmed ElSheikh, states, "Vaccination is one way which can help us combat COVID-19 and we are thankful to have partners like SEEDS to front-end the community vaccination drives and set up COVID care centres."

SEEDS Co-Founder Manu Gupta there is a need to unite and look at ways to offer all the possible support to the ongoing efforts as India navigates through the second wave of COVID-19.

Stating that access to medical infrastructure in the affected marginalized communities is limited and makes survival rates much lower.

Manu Gupta said, "The need of the hour, therefore, is to step up a robust vaccination drive, create COVID care centers and help facilitate the supply of critical needs such as oxygen."

PepsiCo Foundation said in the second phase of its initiative to combat the pandemic it will roll out partnerships with other NGOs to support the frontline COVID warriors with PPE kits, N95, and surgical 3-ply masks, pulse oximeters, and sanitizers among others.

PepsiCo India states it has also committed to cover the cost of vaccination for its employees and their spouses. As part of the same initiative, vaccination drives are being organized in partnership with leading healthcare providers.