A new gastroenterology center opened on Tuesday in Lake Nona but the goal wasn’t only to network and admire the new facility.
The Indian American Business Association and Chamber ran the event, hoping to also raise money for India which is now the center of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have supplied over $40,000 worth of medical supplies, equipment and monetary donations through various channels, and we are continuing to do so,” said Preshant Patel, president of the Indian American Business Association and Chamber in Orange County.
His brother is in India, helping with the effort.
“Dr. Manish Patel with Shivjyoti Hospitals, he is spearheading and helping us distribute out supplies, providing medical staff, what is needed medically there: oxygen concentrator, oxygen cylinders and flow meter for travel purposes,” Patel said.
Support is still coming.
“It’s just not the American Indians who are doing this, but it’s a local, it’s a great community here in Orlando who are willing to help. For example, I have a small business, people come to me and say, ‘hey, I want to donate,'” said Jay Patel, IABA Vice President.
Jay Patel has a sister who lives in India affected by the virus.
Yogesh Bharucha has sick relatives, too.
Both men are vice presidents of the organization.
“My sister-in-law and my mother-in-law, they were both affected by COVID. They were both in the hospital, but now they’re both home but they are both on oxygen,” Bharucha said. “This is a global crisis, so this is not my country, your country. This is our world. We need to preserve it, and we need to take care of it. This is the way we come together and take care of our world together.” (source: wesh.com)
