Bayer announces support and relief measures for India’s fight against COVID-19

To address the urgent needs regarding COVID-19, Bayer is re-purposing its existing 200 NM3/hr nitrogen plant at its manufacturing facility at Vapi, Gujarat to help provide a permanent source of oxygen supply to a local hospital. It will also provide oxygen concentrators to Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to serve communities across rural India.

Over the last 10 months, Bayer, along with the Government of Maharashtra, has converted its plant at Chittegaon, Aurangabad into an 80-bedded COVID-care facility. To support those in need, the organisation has also sponsored beds in major hospitals across multiple cities for emergency support.

Further, in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra, the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) and WNS Global Services, Bayer is supporting 30 ICU beds in one of the district hospitals through telemedicine solutions.

There is an urgent and critical need to support those paramedics and frontline workers who are struggling with mental health challenges during these tough times. To this end, the company is launching a helpline to support these frontline workers and the farming community. This helpline will serve approximately 10,000 beneficiaries and their immediate families.

To accelerate the vaccination process, it is mobilising communities by conducting awareness drives highlighting the benefits of immunisation and reinforcing COVID Appropriate Behaviour (CAB).

Narain, Senior Representative, South Asia — Bayer and Chief Executive Officer, Bayer CropScience, said, “During these unprecedented times, it is our responsibility to support the nation’s fight against the pandemic. Our small contribution is an effort to sustain the sections of our society where help is needed the most. Reflecting our vision, ‘Health for all, hunger for none,’ we will continue our efforts to resurrect the vulnerable sections of our society.”

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Bayer has also been focussed at providing holistic support across multiple dimensions delivering impactful results to the communities and customers it serves. As part of these initiatives to provide critical supplies and support, Bayer has provided 15,000 PPE kits to 175 hospitals across six states; 6,00,000 N-95 masks to police personnel and 206 hospitals in 12 states; 5,000 pairs of gloves to frontline workers; 5,500 ration kits to migrant workers and 45,000 cooked meals to quarantined individuals and frontline workers.

In addition, through its initiative, ‘Better Farms, Better Lives,’ the company has provided 4,00,000 small-holder farmers immediate access to basic agri-inputs and crop advisories in 204 districts across 17 states, spanning key crops such as rice, corn, vegetables and millet to support their critical livelihood needs. The company is also extending support to marginalised communities with nutritious food through the Roti Foundation, Mumbai.