Mysore/Mysuru: Pitching in its mite in the battle against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, the Mysuru Citizens Forum on Friday donated 5,000 medical kits to the MCC at a programme organised at Suttur Mutt premises at the foot of Chamundi Hill here.

The medical kits were handed over  to MCC Commissioner Shilpa Nag by Suttur Mutt Seer Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji in the presence of District Minister S.T. Somashekar.

Speaking on the occasion, S.T. Somashekar lauded the service of MCF. Pointing out that many donors are coming forward for donating in cash and kind to fight the deadly pandemic, he said that it is satisfactory to note that COVID test positivity rate is coming down in the State. The donation of medical kits will help in these trying times, he added.

KR MLA S.A. Ramdas said that the co-operation of everyone is important to ensure success of the District Administration’s resolve to make Mysuru as COVID-free district by July 1, marking International Doctors Day.

MP Pratap Simha opined that  the deadly COVID contagion that  broke out last year was not as deadly as the current second wave of the attack. Maintaining that the present situation is totally different from the one last year, he sought full co-operation from the public for tackling the pandemic which is causing havoc across the globe.

Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji said that the dwindling number of positive cases has brought some relief. However, it is a matter of concern that cases are rising in rural and interior areas of the district, he said and asked the people to take all precautionary and safety measures for their own health, well-being and safety.

Terming the recent Chamarajanagar incident in which a family of four ended their lives in a suicide pact after being alienated by neighbours for contracting the virus, as unfortunate, the Seer advised the people not to discriminate COVID-recovered persons. MCF President R. Vasudev Bhat said that the medical kits are meant for distribution among  isolated COVID positive patients.

Pointing out that each medical kit contains a set of 5 surgical masks, Ivermectin, Vitamin, Paracetamol, Doxycyclin and Ranitidine tablets  in accordance with the required dosage, he said that the MCF had planned to donate 18,000 kits. But as the authorities advised against stocking  for now, it was decided to donate 5,000 kits now, he said and added that the total cost was Rs. 8 lakh. 

He further said that the MCF was ready to donate 10,000 more medical kits whenever the authorities ask for.

MLAs G.T. Devegowda and Tanveer Sait, MUDA Chairman H.V. Rajeev, JLR Chairman M. Appanna, ZAK Chairman L.R. Mahadevaswamy, MyLAC Chairman N.V. Phaneesh, Karnataka Compost Development Corporation Chairman S. Mahadevaiah, JSS Mahavidyapeetha Executive Secretary Dr. C.G. Betsurmath and others were present.