Anzer Ayoob
Jammu, May 1: At the time Jammu and Kashmir is facing the second wave of COVID-19, a group of people in Jammu and Kashmir has started “SOS JK”—to reach people through social media in the valley for any medical help.
A group is managed by about 10 people with more than 200 volunteers including journalists, artists, social activists, doctors, lawyers, politicians and others.
The group has got wide support from the politicians including former chief minister Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and various other officials from the government.
While sharing a link, Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattoo tweeted, “If you are a COVID Fighter, If you have defeated Corona, come forward & help others to win their battles against this Virus with your life saving #Plasma. Together we can!
“Every Plasma donor is a Life Saver” Fill up the link below & be a saviour.#SOSJK.(sic).”
Khushboo Mattoo said, “We are trying to create a one-stop-shop for all verified information and databases regarding COVID crises like hospital beds, ambulances, plasma or even medicines.”
“We are reaching out to people through social media who are stuck at home because their whole family is positive, so they can’t go out for food. We are also going to undertake a major drive for masks and sanitizer distribution among people,” she said.
Meanwhile, various verified social media accounts trend the hashtag #SOSJK and volunteers of the group try to reach out to people who require plasma or other COVID related help.
“We are staring at a complete collapse of our health system. We have seen the horrifying visuals of people dying on roads, while waiting for a hospital bed, in Delhi. But the silver lining in J&K is that we still have a precious week or so, left. That is why we at #SOSJK decided to get together & prepare for it before the Tsunami hits us. We collect verified data on Oxygen, Plasma and Bed availability & put it across to those desperately looking for it. We are a help desk for Covid patients & their families,” Ifra Jan said.
She also said, “You however will not need us if you wear a mask, meet people only in open/well ventilated spaces. But we need your support irrespectively. Please donate plasma if you’re a recovered Corona patient & send to us verified information on Oxygen availability in your area. Together, we shall overcome. We can be reached on twitter by using the hashtag #SOSJK.”
One of the core member of #SOSJK Mohit Bhan said, “We have formed an apolitical group of volunteers preparing a database. Anyone from J&K looking for Oxygen cylinders, Hospital beds, Ambulances, Plasma etc, or are aware of chemists , distributors selling Oxygen and meds or plasma donors, please tag message or call us at +918800002158.”
J&K records 2,283 deaths so far while more than 176,083 cases have been recorded till Friday in which 28,359 are active.
