PETALING JAYA, May 5 (Sin Chew Daily) — Responding to Ven Jue Cheng's appeal, head of Fo Guang Shan in Malaysia, members of the Buddhist group have taken immediate action to raise fund for 200 units of oxygen converters to be delivered to India in few hours.

The oxygen converters will be shipped to India by air on Thursday, after sorting out the most difficult issue – transportation. 

India is one of the countries hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic in the world. The number of patients infected by COVID-19 continue to increase drastically with more than 300,000 new cases each day. 

On May 2, the death toll reached a record of 3,689 in a day. The medical system was at the verge of collapse. Hospitals did not have enough beds, ambulances and oxygen. Crematoriums were carrying out round the clock cremations. 

In India, COVID-19 patients were not given oxygen. Hospitals were full. The deceased were cremated in open air. How did this homeland of Buddha end up as hell on earth?

Ven Jue Cheng, the deputy secretary of Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA) in Southeast Asia who is also the chief abbess of Fo Guang Shan in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, sent a message to BLIA members on April 27 to enquire if everyone would contribute by sending oxygen to various parts of India. 

A devotee shared the information that sending oxygen tanks to India by air was a mission impossible but oxygen concentrators could be purchased from the market to be delivered to India.

A unit of oxygen concentrator was priced in the range of RM3,500 and RM5,000. There were not many units left. Hence Fo Guang Shan decided to purchase 100 units in advance.

In two hours, funds for 100 units of oxygen concentrators were raised.

Cash donations were still pouring in after securing funds to buy 100 units of oxygen concentrators.

Some even contacted Ven Jue Cheng: "Why was I not informed of the fund raising?"

A devotee called to say that his mother had saved RM100,000 to be donated to Fo Guang Shan after she passed on. Due to the severity of the pandemic, the mother decided to donate the sum in advance for charity.

"I was moved but I still declined the offer. But the mother insisted that she would not be able to witness the donation after her death. She liked to be involved in charity now and she would be able to assist India. She hoped to help the poor and the needy.

"I was touched by her gesture and many Buddhist devotees and BLIA members who were keen to contribute," said Ven Jue Cheng.

The BLIA in Hong Kong was keen to join the mission to deliver oxygen to India too.

Fo Guang Shan finally settled with 200 units of oxygen concentrators it found cheaper units.

Ven Jue Cheng also reminded all the ensure no kickbacks involved during the process of purchase.

Apart from oxygen concentrator, Ven Jue Cheng also considered the personal protective equipment (PPE), fabric masks and face masks that doctors and members of Fo Guang Shan in India would need. Hence, 1,590 sets of PPE, 12,656 pieces of three -ply reusable fabric masks were also prepared for emergency use.

Next is how to deliver the oxygen concentrators to India.

Airline companies from many countries have stopped flying to India as the COVID-19 pandemic is worsening. Malaysia has banned flights from India to Malaysia on April 28. Delivery is the next hurdle to cross.

Many Buddhist devotees in India were roped in to help finding out customs clearance and delivery of the equipment. Finally, a local logistic company jointly owned by a Malay and an Indian agreed to sponsor half of the transportation cost to delivery the oxygen concentrators to Hyderabad in southern India.

Datuk Dr. Lim Siow Jin, a Malaysian businessman who has business in India would help to deliver the oxygen concentrators to New Delhi, Calcutta, Gujerat, Chennai, Ladakh, Darjeeling, Pune and Hyderabad for BLIA members in India and local hospitals to offer free service.

List of organisations assisted by BLIA and the Fo Guang Shan in Malaysia: 

1. Gujarat Chapter- Karuna Charitable Clinic

2. Banas Medical College and Research Institute & Palanpur Civil Hospital

3. Chennai Chapter – Narayanaa Hospital, Government Chengalpattu Medical College, ABC Hospital, Harshamitra Superspeciality Cancer Centre and Research Institute。            

4. Andhra Pradesh Buddhist Centre – Sneha Hospital、Dr. KVR Maternity、Sri Venkata Ramana Nursing Home、Sai Siddharta Multi Specialty Hospital

5. Hyderabad Chapter                

6. Darjeeling Chapter             

7. Ladakh Chapter              

8. FGS New Delhi Centre

9. FGS Kolkata

10. FGS Buddhist Institute Bodhgaya                

11. Missioneries of Charity (Kolkata)               

12. Asian Buddhist Cultural Centre                

13. International Medication Centre (Bodhgaya)

14. International Buddhist Confederation.              

15. DXN Zenayu Clinic             

16. Other hospitals in remote area