In what can only be described as a ray of sunlight breaking through the clouds, ICICI Lombard set a Guinness World Record Title by registering over 30,000 people for vaccination in a week. The registration took place in the slums of Dharavi and Worli in Mumbai.
Vaccination programmes in India have been seriously hampered by the scarcity of doses. With the government struggling to vaccinate India’s large population, corporates have joined the effort even as the Centre recognized expenditure on vaccines by companies as part of CSR. The World Record drive was conducted by the general insurance giant along with Surana Sethia Hospital & Research Centre and administered doses to over 32,000 people.
The drive was launched with the aim of vaccinating the population that inhabited the shanty towns of Dharavi and Worli. The area was a hotspot for COVID-19 and due to the extreme proximity of house clusters and absence of basic sanitary services. It is estimated that in Dharavi alone, there are one million inhabitants in an area that spans just 535 acres.
Experts have already predicted that a third wave is imminent and as such, it is crucial to inoculate the population, especially the underprivileged sections that have no access to such services. The CSR initiatives of corporates to get the population vaccinated will go a long way in preparing us for the next wave and help us tackle any arising situation.
ICICI Lombard’s vaccination drive was conducted round-the-clock for seven days straight. Surana Sethia Hospital & Research Centre provided the required help and support in terms of manpower and medical equipment, ensuring end-to-end coordination. A healthcare team of over 60 professionals, including doctors, nurses, verifiers and paramedical staff, was responsible for handling the affairs at the free vaccination camps.
Sanjeev Mantri, Executive Director, ICICI Lombard General Insurance, said, “We are deeply encouraged to have got the opportunity to vaccinate more than 32,000 deserving individuals, giving them added protection against the virus. It is humbling for us that we broke the Guinness World Record milestone in the process. As we progress in this journey, we will continue to play a meaningful role in terms of alleviating some of the challenges faced by the underprivileged sections of the society in the areas of health and wellness as well as road safety, through our diverse CSR initiatives.”
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