Project Breathe
The Indian COVID-19 Second Wave Relief Initiative by Bay Area Prabasi
Bringing Lifesaving Oxygen to
Overwhelmed Rural Communities
When the catastrophic Second Wave of COVID-19 struck, local hospitals and community clinics in West Bengal faced severe shortages of oxygen equipment. In response, we mobilized critical funding and structured transparent logistical frameworks to airlift oxygen concentrators directly to rural zones where we could save precious lives.
LIFELINE STATS
Hundreds of clinical units are fully functional and ready to manage asthmatic and critical pulmonary requirements today in rural Bengal!
Milestones of Collaborative Giving
Every donation was meticulously managed with 100% transparency to prioritize direct supply purchases above administrative overheads.
Raised rapidly by global donors and Prabasi members to address the emergency.
Delivered medical-grade 5L & 10L oxygen systems directly to frontline rural blocks.
Formed secure hubs providing free emergency refill lines to remote tribal clusters.
Equipped grassroots health workers with pulse oximeters and essential medical kits.
Transparent Local Collaborations
To guarantee absolute transparency and ensure that our donor resources were directly reaching real patients in real-time, Bay Area Prabasi developed highly stringent verification procedures.
Rather than deploying funds globally without active localized traceability, every single shipment was coordinated and received on camera by known on-the-ground execution bodies, local state representatives, and non-partisan volunteer collectives.
Enabled seamless, direct distribution and real-time validation of equipment deployment in local blocks.
Supplied essential machinery directly to medical centers in Belur Math, Purulia, and other rural centers.
Managed primary healthcare centers and emergency breathing units across the Sundarbans and deep village terrain.
How We Responded to the Crisis
Read how a fast and effective response was set up through collaboration, airlift logistics, and direct block level verification.
Immediate Needs & Procurement
When the devastating Second Wave hit India in early 2021, Bay Area Prabasi immediately set up a dedicated crisis task force. We partnered with verified international medical suppliers to procure high-flow, medical-grade FDA/CE-certified 5L and 10L oxygen concentrators.
Diplomatic & Aviation Logistics
We navigated complicated international supply line bottlenecks and customs backlogs by working actively with commercial and specialized diplomatic cargo services. This ensured lifeline equipment was airlifted and cleared quickly upon landing.
Partnering for Zero-leak Deployment
Collaborating with local teams like the Connecting Dreams Foundation (CDF) and the Ramakrishna Mission, we set up a rigid, 'zero-leak' visual tracking mechanism. Every single oxygen machine was directly received, signed for, and placed inside service within hours.
Sustained Emergency Resilience
As the peak wave stabilized, these resources were successfully transitioned to permanent local oxygen banks and rural ICU suites. This infrastructure continues to support regional clinics during normal asthmatic and pulmonary emergencies.
West Bengal & India Map
Lifelines Delivered Across Districts
Focused medical resources deployment covering both metropolitan centers and high-vulnerability coastal regions like the Sundarbans.
Reaching Remote Districts
Our support network extended across multiple highly vulnerable districts. This included the remote Sundarbans region, tribal clusters in Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, and specialized health facilities in Kolkata and Ballygunge.
Additionally, Prabasi's local partners established regional clinical distribution hubs, allowing emergency oximeters, masks, and temporary Oxygen Banks to pivot seamlessly according to neighborhood testing demands.
Join Us In Sustaining Bengal Health Systems
While the immediate crisis has subsided, Bay Area Prabasi remains permanently prepared to address localized emergency situations and support medical accessibility in Rural Bengal. Let’s protect local families together.