The recent surge of COVID-19 has posed immense challenges in India, overwhelming hospitals and health staff. According to the World Health Organization, India accounted for 38% of global infections recorded in the week ending April 25. This week, the country recorded more than 360,000 new cases in one day – the highest single day record in the world – pushing its total number of infections to more than 17 million.

Many nations are mobilizing to help, sending medical supplies and support to help slow the spreading of the virus. The business community has an important role to play as well.

To help address urgent needs in India, Abbott and its foundation, the Abbott Fund, are providing new grants to support relief efforts. This adds to the funding and products donated to support COVID-19 relief efforts in 2020. Working with longstanding non-profit partner organizations CARE, Americares India, and the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA), this aid aims to help address key needs, including strengthening existing health services, establishing new temporary health facilities, and conducting community outreach.

To help support health systems and health workers, we are working together with CARE in Bihar and Americares India in Maharashtra to:

• Activate temporary COVID-19 facilities with medical staff, beds, testing labs and life-saving equipment such as oxygen and ventilators
• Provide life-saving equipment, personal protective equipment and supplies to hospitals, healthcare workers, first responders and community members
• Provide coronavirus health education to community members through a mobile health center program
• Support the roll out of vaccines

To help affected communities, we're helping SEWA to launch campaigns in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to educate about masks, testing, vaccines and mental health counseling.

For more on how Abbott and the Abbott Fund are helping health systems and communities around the world to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.