Gift of the Givers offers aid to India amid Covid-19 catastrophe

The Covid-stricken country is battling to keep up with the record-high cases and fatalities, putting pressure on its health system.

Earlier this week, India broke the world record when it recorded a daily increase 360,000 new infections -- a global record -- and over 3,000 deaths on Wednesday

Medical supplies, oxygen supplies and medicine, are also reportedly running low.

Gift of the Givers founder Imtiaz Sooliman says they are in talks with the South African and Indian governments.

"The request is quite simple - they require oxygen in large quantities, and they require machines to deliver that oxygen. Medical people on the ground they are talking about steroids, they are talking about pain killers, scrubs - so we're looking at those options also.  

Sooliman adds he'll meet with Department of Health officials on Friday.

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It's unclear how long the mission will take.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has also been roped in to fast-track the process.

"The Indian government said 'put everything together' and they will clear everything instantly, so I don't think we're going to have a problem, especially because Dirco is also involved with us."

"All of this will fast track the process of paperwork, red tape, customs, duties and all that kind of stuff."

While Sooliman can't give an exact figure, the mission is expected to run into the millions of rands.

"It's too early to say, we just started the campaign but the oxygen we've already bought is already R1.5 million, that's last night alone. The scrubs are R400 000 already - that's R1.9 million. Then there's steroids, we're looking at another R200 000 or R300 000," says Sooliman.

He adds the situation in India requires global cooperation.

"Right now, the whole world is focusing on India. If the virus spreads beyond India, the whole world is going to be in serious trouble."

Listen to Imtiaz Sooliman below: