Author: Smile Team

~Funding from S&P Global supports provision of protective gear to frontline workers, supply of oxygen cylinders and nebulizers at COVID care centers across Mumbai, Delhi NCR~

XX June 2021, New Delhi:  As the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has persisted across India, with devastating effects, Smile Foundation’s ‘Health Cannot Wait’ campaign is helping strengthen public health infrastructure in the country and is providing critical equipment.

Fighting the new, more infectious variant of the virus, frontline health workers are working round the clock even as hospitals run out of beds and oxygen supply, and thousands succumb to preventable deaths. India has become the second-worst affected country, with more than 29 million cases, and more than 353,000 deaths.[1]

During this time of need, Smile Foundation has come forward with its ‘Health Cannot Wait’ campaign to strengthen public health infrastructure. The campaign has recently received support from S&P Global, a leading provider of credit ratings, benchmarks and analytics in the global capital and commodity markets, via their India Corporate Social Responsibility Fund.

Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder, and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation said, “As the pandemic rages on, there is an urgent need to strengthen systems and provide relief to as many people as possible. All stakeholders including corporates, citizens, the government, and civil society organizations are unitedly addressing the situation. We are delighted to partner with S&P Global, as their support goes a long way in reinforcing our efforts under the Health Cannot Wait campaign.”

“Through S&P Global’s outreach efforts, we are committed to supporting our local communities, particularly in times of most acute need. Through our partnership with Smile Foundation, we are proud to help by providing protective gear for frontline workers as part of the ‘Health Cannot Wait campaign’s efforts across Mumbai and Delhi NCR,” said Nilam Patel, Managing Director, India Operations, S&P Global.” 

The Health Cannot Wait campaign solicits long-term investment through donations to strengthen COVID-19 care centers with critical supplies like oxygen cylinders, oximeters & oxygen concentrators. It entails the setting up of oxygen banks for critical patient support among vulnerable communities, mobilization of PPE Kits & N-95 Masks for frontline health workers, distribution of Hygiene Kits (including masks, soaps, sanitizers, oximeters), tele-counseling to dispel vaccine hesitancy, spread awareness on COVID-19 appropriate behavior and the provision of primary healthcare services to reduce the load on existing health infrastructure.

So far, Smile Foundation has provided over 27.7 million meals to more than 200,000 families in 23 states of India. It aims to provide three square meals to more than 250,000 families and is working to provide 50,000 home isolation kits to COVID-19 patients.

An important part of the campaign is the provision of free teleconsultation to the underprivileged through a toll-free number for tele-calling and outreach through bulk SMS service. The tele-consultation emphasizes the personal and community benefits of vaccination. Its objective is to address questions of people who are hesitant to get vaccinated, dispel myths, give them the right information, and encourage them to get vaccinated. So far, Smile Foundation has sensitized more than 100,000 people through tele-counseling and aims to reach out to 500,000 people through this medium.

Smile Foundation is providing doorstep healthcare services to around one million people from 2,200 marginalized communities in 14 states. It aims to benefit 2 million people with mobile hospital & telemedicine projects in FY 21-22.

The Health Cannot Wait campaign has so far provided over 80,000 kits of protective gear to frontline health workers and aims to provide 1 million protective gear kits to frontline health workers. As part of this campaign, so far, over 2,00,000 hygiene kits have been provided to vulnerable communities, and the target is to provide 500,000 hygiene kits.

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation is an NGO in India directly benefitting over 15,00,000 children and their families every year, through more than 400 live welfare projects on education for poor children, healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment, in over 2000 remote villages and slums across 25 states of India. Adopting a life cycle approach of development, Smile Foundation focuses its interventions on children, their families, and the community.

Media Contact:
Sreeparna Chakrabarty: [email protected]. | 9811502059
Website: http://www.smilefoundationindia.org/

Smile Foundation will partner SBI Card, as the letter supports and strengthens healthcare systems. Their partnership would aim to benefit 171,288 people in the Aspirational District of Mewat, Haryana

19 May 2021, Mewat, Haryana:  As the country battles the second COVID wave, it needs to rapidly strengthen its healthcare infrastructure which has been tested to the hilt. The number of active Covid cases and the death toll have made India the second-worst affected country.[1] To address the situation at grassroots level, the entire healthcare system is now focusing on prevention, diagnosis, treatment and containment of the COVID-19 infection.

In a bid to contribute in containing the impact of the pandemic, Smile foundation has joined hands with SBI Card to setup Telemedicine Units at government recommended sub-centers to make quality healthcare services accessible in Mewat district of Haryana. Mewat is Haryana’s only district to figure in NITI Aayog’s list of 111 most-backward districts – aspirational districts of India.

Speaking about the need for such health centres, Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder, and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation said, “With the help of this project, we aim to strengthen the healthcare system to bridge the gap in primary services amid Covid-19 pandemic to reduce patient load at secondary and tertiary government facilities. We also aim to build a robust system for community screening of Covid-19 patients and streamlining need-based referrals to manage the spread of the pandemic. This way we will be able to nip the virus in the bud, preventing its spread.”

Speaking about the partnership, Mr/Ms XYZ (Title) SBI Card Ltd. said, “We are pleased to partner with Smile Foundation in converting Sub-centers to Model Health Centers in Haryana. We believe this is a step in the right direction and Mewat will be a model district for other Indian states to follow. States like Haryana which have a wide carpet area but sparse population and low population density, require the availability of quality health services in remote locations. These model health centers will give telemedicine access to patients, ensuring health services to the remotest beneficiary.”

The project aims to benefit 171,288 people in Mewat, Haryana and will be implemented over 24 months, split in pre-operational activities of 3 months, followed by 21 months of operational activity. The pre-operational activities include identification of sub-centers, procurement of equipment and medicines, rrecruitment of project staff for telemedicine units, community mobilization and awareness activities as well as training of staff.

Post this phase, operational activities will include setting up of telemedicine units, which would provide services like screening of patients, disbursal of medicines, rapid tests, referral, BCC activities, coordination with CHW, and ANC & PNC care, regular community mobilization, networking and liaising with government health departments and  local government healthcare institutions as well as data collection and monitoring.

Besides this initiative, Smile Foundation is mustering support to provide 100 Covid-Care Centers and government health institutions oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, BiPAP machines, PPE Kits, sanitizers, oximeters, thermal scanners & masks. It aims to create 100 Oxygen Banks across the country.

Through its Health Cannot Wait campaign, Smile Foundation has provided over 80,000 protective gear to frontline health workers, so far and aims to provide 1 million protective gear to frontline health workers. As part of this campaign, so far, over 2, 00,000 hygiene kits have been provided to vulnerable communities, and the target is to provide 500,000 hygiene kits to underprivileged families.

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation, is an NGO in India directly benefitting over 15,00,000 children and their families every year, through more than 400 live welfare projects on education for poor children, healthcare, livelihood and women empowerment, in over 2000 remote villages and slums across 25 states of India. Adopting a life cycle approach of development, Smile Foundation focuses its interventions on children, their families, and the community.

Media Contact:
Sreeparna Chakrabarty: [email protected]. | 9811502059
Website: http://www.smilefoundationindia.org/

• Quaker teams up with leading non-profit organization, Smile Foundation, to provide Quaker Oats to doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals
• Meals to be provided to over 45 Government and private hospitals across Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra, Telangana, Kerala, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka
• Launches a special initiative #SalutingOurHeroes to extend heartfelt gratitude to healthcare heroes

New Delhi, June 15^th, 2021: Saluting the undying spirit, care and courage of the healthcare community, Quaker Oats has partnered with Smile Foundation to launch #SalutingOurHeroes, an initiative to provide over 1 lakh oatmeals* to the healthcare heroes in India. As part of this initiative, Quaker will reach out to over 45 government and private hospitals and medical institutions. The initiative is being rolled out across over 7 states including Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Kerala, West Bengal, and Karnataka.

From doctors to nurses and medical professionals, each member of the healthcare community has put their lives at risk to keep numerous families safe. Through this special #SalutingOurHeroes initiative, Quaker, has extended its heartfelt gratitude to the healthcare community by providing them with bowls of hope and energy. Some of the hospitals engaged through this initiative include Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurugram; KEM Hospital, Mumbai; Ernakulam General Hospital, Kerala; Rukhmani Bai Government Hospital, Mumbai; and  Aarvy Hospital, Gurugram.

Talking about the initiative Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder & Executive Trustee of Smile Foundation, said “It has been over a year now that our frontline health professionals have been working tirelessly to defeat the virus and save lives in the pandemic, and yet their determination is stronger than ever. Through this initiative, Smile Foundation, in partnership with Quaker is paying tribute to the healthcare heroes by sharing a small token of gratitude for their extraordinary service during this critical time. While our partnership with Quaker goes back a long way, in the pandemic particularly, their support has been crucial in providing nutritious oatmeals to the healthcare community.”  

Commenting on the initiative Anshul Khanna, Senior Director, Marketing – Foods, PepsiCo India said, ‘’Through this pandemic, the healthcare community continues to work tirelessly and round-the-clock, putting their lives at risk in order to protect our families and keep our communities safe. Through this humble initiative by Quaker, we at PepsiCo India, salute the selfless service and valiant spirit of our healthcare heroes. #SalutingOurHeroes is a way for us to express our heartfelt gratitude towards the healthcare professionals. We are thankful to have partners like Smile Foundation who have led the on-ground roll-out of the initiative of providing wholesome oats, filled with nutritious energy, to hospitals across India. As a brand that represents ‘Fuel for the Real Fit’, Quaker will continue to stand with the healthcare heroes during these challenging times.”

This initiative is a continuation of the brand’s previous efforts wherein they provided over 1 lakh oatmeals* to COVID specialty hospitals across Delhi-NCR in 2020.

* 1 oatmeal = 40 grams of Quaker rolled oats.

*****

About Quaker:

Quaker Oats was launched in India in 2006. The brand Quaker is more than 140 years old and is a world leader in the oatmeal segment. Quaker Oats is a 100% wholegrain and natural source of carbohydrates and dietary fibre. It has unique soluble fibre called βeta Glucan, which is scientifically proven to help reduce cholesterol (cholesterol is a risk factor for heart diseases). In India, Quaker Oats are also available in variants such as Quaker Plain Oats, Quaker Oats Multigrain and Quaker Oats with Flavour Mix.

About PepsiCo India

PepsiCo entered India in 1989 and has grown to become one of the largest MNC food and beverage businesses in India. PepsiCo India has been consistently investing in the country and has built an expansive beverage and snack food business supported by 62 plants across foods and beverages. PepsiCo India’s diverse portfolio includes iconic brands like Pepsi, LAY’S, Kurkure, Tropicana 100%, Gatorade and Quaker. In less than two decades, the company has been able to organically grow eight brands, each of which generate Rs. 1000 crores or more in estimated annual retail sales and are household names, trusted across the country. PepsiCo’s growth in India has been guided by our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. “Winning with Purpose” reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of the business.

For more information, visit www.pepsico.com

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation is a national level development organization reaching out to more than 600,000 underprivileged children, youth and women directly every year through more than 250 welfare projects on subjects such as education, healthcare, youth employability, and women empowerment across 25 states of India. Adopting a life cycle approach of development, Smile Foundation focuses its interventions on children, their families, and the community.

Website – www.smilefoundationindia.org

For any media queries, please contact:

From PepsiCo India: Amit Nanchahal| [email protected] +91 8130463737

From Edelman: Shriya Yadav | [email protected] | +91 9971230399 Parushi Sharma | [email protected] | +91 8377043010

~Smile Foundation under its health cannot wait campaign is providing doorstep delivery of critical healthcare services across India~

XX May 2021, New Delhi:  The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has shaken up the entire country and seems to be even more devastating than the first. Fighting the new, more infectious variant of the virus, frontline health workers are working round the clock even as hospitals run out of beds and oxygen supply, and thousands succumb to preventable deaths. India has become the second-worst affected globally, with more than 24 million cases, and more than 270,000 deaths.[1]

During such an alarming situation of the pandemic in the country, Smile Foundation has come forward under its ‘Health Cannot Wait’ campaign to provide urgent necessities like PPE kits to frontline workers, strengthening the existing public health infrastructure through the supply of oxygen and medicines, reducing the load of primary healthcare facilities, providing hygiene kits to masses, and spreading awareness to contain the spread of the virus.

Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder, and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation said “While the pandemic has put to test the entire healthcare infrastructure, our main motive is to support the country, help the underprivileged get timely access to healthcare, and spread awareness to tackle vaccine hesitancy in remote areas.”  

He also added, “It is important to understand the reality and educate everyone about the virus. Young people are much more affected in the second wave”

The campaign aims to look at long term investments through donations contributing towards strengthening COVID care centres with oxygen cylinders, oximeters & concentrators, providing oxygen Banks for critical patient support in vulnerable communities, mobilsing PPE Kits & N-95 Masks for frontline health workers, distributing COVID-19 Protection Kits (including masks, soaps, sanitisers, oximeters), tele-counselling for sensitization on vaccine and prevention against COVID and providing primary healthcare services to reduce the load on existing health infrastructure.

Smile Foundation has already distributed over 1.5 lakh hygiene kits to ensure that along with awareness, vulnerable families also have access to basic hygiene care, also 1 million people from 2200 vulnerable communities are being provided doorstep healthcare services and more than 2,00,000 hygiene kits have been distributed to the vulnerable population.

COVID-19 has worsened the condition of the country and now urgently country needs to improve the functioning of the health sector to ensure immediate healthcare support across the country.

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation, is an NGO in India directly benefitting over 15,00,000 children and their families every year, through more than 400 live welfare projects on education for poor children, healthcare, livelihood and women empowerment, in over 2000 remote villages and slums across 25 states of India. Adopting a life cycle approach of development, Smile Foundation focuses its interventions on children, their families, and the community.

Media Contact:
Sreeparna Chakrabarty: [email protected]. | 9811502059
Website: http://www.smilefoundationindia.org/

~Smile Foundation under its health cannot wait campaign is providing doorstep delivery of critical healthcare services across India~

XX May 2021, New Delhi:  The second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic is looking large and shaken up the entire country. A study suggests that this disease is leaving longer-lasting effects on the physical and mental health compared to the first one, and the end is also expected to be a slow process.

During such an alarming situation of the pandemic in the country, Smile Foundation has come forward under its ‘Health Cannot Wait’ campaign to provide urgent necessities like PPE kits to frontline workers, strengthening the existing public health infrastructure through the supply of oxygen and medicines, reducing the load of primary healthcare facilities, providing hygiene kits to masses, and spreading awareness to contain the spread of the virus.

Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder, and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation said “While the pandemic has put to test the entire healthcare infrastructure, our main motive is to support the country, help the underprivileged get timely access to healthcare, and spread awareness to tackle vaccine hesitancy in remote areas.”  

He also added, “It is important to understand the reality and educate everyone about the virus. Young people are much more affected in the second wave”

Smile Foundation has already distributed over 1.5 lakh hygiene kits to ensure that along with awareness, vulnerable families also have access to basic hygiene care, also 1 million people from 2200 vulnerable communities are being provided doorstep healthcare services and more than 2,00,000 hygiene kits have been distributed to the vulnerable population.

Covid 19 has worsened the condition of the country and now urgently country needs to improve the functioning of the health sector to ensure immediate healthcare support across the country.

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation, is an NGO in India directly benefitting over 15,00,000 children and their families every year, through more than 400 live welfare projects on education for poor children, healthcare, livelihood and women empowerment, in over 2000 remote villages and slums across 25 states of India. Adopting a life cycle approach of development, Smile Foundation focuses its interventions on children, their families, and the community.

Media Contact:
Sreeparna Chakrabarty: [email protected]. | 9811502059
Website: http://www.smilefoundationindia.org/

~HDB Financial Services supports running of Smile on Wheels mobile healthcare unit in Tiruvallur~

23^rd August 2021, Chennai:  HDB Financial Services has come forward to support Smile Foundation’s Health Cannot Wait campaign to strengthen public health infrastructure and provide primary healthcare to people. HDB Financial Services is supporting the running of Smile on Wheels mobile health unit in Tiruvallur, where it will cater to people in around 12 villages.

Mr. XXX, CEO, HDB Financial Services was present at the launch and flagged off the mobile health unit.

Smile on Wheels is a national-level mobile hospital program catering to underprivileged children and women. The program takes well-equipped medical vans along with specialized doctors, nurses, medical staff, and medicines to identified villages and slums in a systematic manner.

The objective of the program is to ensure improved health services reach the doorstep of people residing in unserved or underserved areas. The Smile on Wheels program has so far provided free healthcare services to more than 1.5 million children and families.

Smile on Wheels vans cover rural or slum areas where either no government health care facilities exist or where those that exist do not provide sufficient care for the population. Each unit covers the vicinity of up to 25 kms from its center and visits 2-3 villages a day on a regular basis. In emergency cases, it functions as a referral clinic and an ambulance. The vans are stationed in an urban center, usually with a static hospital, which provisions like a referral medical center. The team also carries out awareness activities on health and hygiene to achieve health seeking behavior.

The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has shaken India and seems to be even more devastating than the first. Fighting the new, more infectious variant of the virus, frontline health workers are working round the clock even as hospitals run out of beds and oxygen supply, and thousands succumb to preventable deaths. India has become the second-worst affected country, with more than 32 million cases, and more than 433,000 deaths.

Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder, and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation said, “As the pandemic continues, we must strengthen systems to provide relief to as many people as possible. Companies, citizens, the government, and civil society organizations must continue working in close collaboration to address the situation. We are delighted to partner HDB Financial Services, as their support will go a long way in bolstering our efforts under the Health Cannot Wait campaign.”

Talking about the partnership, XXX, CEO, HDB Financial Services said, “HDB Financial Services has always contributed as a responsible stakeholder in the development of the community and the country. Our support to Smile on Wheels will help increase access to health services for the unserved and the underserved, providing much-needed relief to the local community.”

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation is an NGO in India directly benefitting over 15,00,000 children and their families every year, through more than 400 live welfare projects on education for poor children, healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment, in over 2000 remote villages and slums across 25 states of India. Adopting a life cycle approach of development, Smile Foundation focuses its interventions on children, their families, and the community.

Media Contact:
Sreeparna Chakrabarty: [email protected]. | 9811502059
Website: http://www.smilefoundationindia.org/

New Delhi, October 29, 2021: The Change the Game Academy, a global initiative which has been co-created by Smile Foundation, is working towards training grass root organizations in India towards self-sustenance through local fund-raising and creating awareness on the ground.

As part of this initiative, a series of workshops have been organised for grassroots organisations by Change the Game India. The latest training was dedicated to Local Fund Raising and was organised in collaboration with Light for the World for organisations in the North East of India. It focussed on disseminating good practices and skills required to attract local funds to the participants for their respective initiatives.

The CtGA under the aegis of Smile Foundation in India imparts the training through an innovative blended learning programme that helps social change makers learn about ways to make people aware of their programmes as well as raising funds locally.

To achieve this, a series of unique training programmes have been curated. Through these customized courses, Smile Foundation is building capacities and empowering social entrepreneurs to diversify sources of funding to help deepen organizational capacities.

Smile Foundation is committed to bring ‘Civic Driven Change’ and to inculcate good practices that empower people.

Co-founder and Executive Trustee of Smile Foundation Santanu Mishra said: “Our aim through this programme is to make civil society aware of the good work being done in local areas and also enable them to support such causes”.

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation is an Indian development organization directly benefiting over 1.5 million children and families through more than 400 welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment spread across 2,000 villages and urban slums in 25 states.

Change the Game India:

Change the Game India aims to empower the grassroots, including communities and social entrepreneurs, in India through building their capacities & mentoring them towards self-reliance & self-sustainability by helping them adapt sustainable ways of raising funds. This is done with a vision that it would enable them address the needs of the civil society by supplementing and complementing the efforts of the government and in line with global development strategies.

Media Contact:
Sreeparna Chakrabarty: [email protected]. | 9811502059
Website: http://www.smilefoundationindia.org/

~Deutsche Bank supports provision of COVID-19 screening kits, PPE kits, thermal scanners, sanitizer, masks and pulse oximeters for frontline workers and patients~

XX May 2021, New Delhi:  Deutsche Bank has come forward to support Smile Foundation’s Health Cannot Wait campaign to strengthen the existing public health infrastructure and provide critical care equipment to people. So far, the bank has donated 2,000 COVID-19 mitigation kits across Mumbai, Bengaluru, Jaipur, and Pune.

These kits include community screening kits, Personal Protection Equipment kits, hand sanitizer, thermal scanners, pulse oximeters and three-ply masks for frontline workers and corona patients.

The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has shaken India and seems to be even more devastating than the first. Fighting the new, more infectious variant of the virus, frontline health workers are working round the clock even as hospitals run out of beds and oxygen supply, and thousands succumb to preventable deaths. India has become the second-worst affected country, with more than 28 million cases, and more than 349,000 deaths.

During this time of need, Smile Foundation has come forward with its ‘Health Cannot Wait’ campaign to strengthen public health infrastructure.

Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder, and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation said, “As the pandemic rages on, there is a need to strengthen systems and provide relief to as many people as possible. Corporates, citizens, the government, and civil society organizations are working together to address the situation. We are delighted to be partnered by Deutsche Bank, as their support will go a long way in bolstering our efforts under the Health Cannot Wait campaign.”

The Health Cannot Wait campaign solicits long-term investment through donations to strengthen COVID care centers with critical supplies like oxygen cylinders, oximeters & oxygen concentrators. It entails the setting up of oxygen banks for critical patient support among vulnerable communities, mobilization of PPE Kits & N-95 Masks for frontline health workers, distribution of Hygiene Kits (including masks, soaps, sanitizers, oximeters), tele-counseling to dispel vaccine hesitancy, spread awareness on COVID-appropriate behavior and the provision of primary healthcare services to reduce the load on existing health infrastructure.

So far, Smile Foundation has provided over 27.7 million meals to more than 200,000 families in 23 states of India. It aims to provide three square meals to more than 250,000 families and is working to provide 50,000 home isolation kits to Covid patients.

An important part of the campaign is the provision of free teleconsultation to the underprivileged through a toll-free number for tele-calling and outreach through bulk SMS service. The tele-consultation emphasizes the personal and community benefits of vaccination. Its objective is to address questions of people who are hesitant to get vaccinated, dispel myths, give them the right information, and encourage them to get vaccinated. So far, Smile Foundation has sensitized more than 100,000 people through tele-counseling and aims to reach out to 500,000 people through this medium.

Smile Foundation is providing doorstep healthcare services to around one million people from 2,200 marginalized communities in 14 states. It aims to benefit 2 million people with mobile hospital & telemedicine projects in FY 21-22.

The Health Cannot Wait campaign has so far provided over 80,000 kits of protective gear to frontline health workers and aims to provide 1 million protective gear kits to frontline health workers. As part of this campaign, so far, over 2,00,000 hygiene kits have been provided to vulnerable communities, and the target is to provide 500,000 hygiene kits.

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation is an NGO in India directly benefitting over 15,00,000 children and their families every year, through more than 400 live welfare projects on education for poor children, healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment, in over 2000 remote villages and slums across 25 states of India. Adopting a life cycle approach of development, Smile Foundation focuses its interventions on children, their families, and the community.

Media Contact:
Sreeparna Chakrabarty: [email protected]. | 9811502059
Website: http://www.smilefoundationindia.org/

~Deutsche Bank supports provision of COVID-19 screening kits, PPE kits, thermal scanners, sanitizer, masks and pulse oximeters for frontline workers and patients~

15 June 2021, New Delhi:  Deutsche Bank has come forward to support Smile Foundation’s Health Cannot Wait campaign to strengthen the existing public health infrastructure and provide critical care equipment to people. So far, the bank has donated for providing 2,000 COVID-19 mitigation kits across Mumbai, Bengaluru, Jaipur, and Pune.

These kits include community screening kits, Personal Protection Equipment kits, hand sanitizer, thermal scanners, pulse oximeters and three-ply masks for frontline workers and corona patients.

The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has shaken India and seems to be even more devastating than the first. Fighting the new, more infectious variant of the virus, frontline health workers are working round the clock even as hospitals run out of beds and oxygen supply, and thousands succumb to preventable deaths. India has become the second-worst affected country, with more than 28 million cases, and more than 349,000 deaths.[1]

During this time of need, Smile Foundation has come forward with its ‘Health Cannot Wait’ campaign to strengthen public health infrastructure.

Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder, and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation said, “As the pandemic rages on, there is a need to strengthen systems and provide relief to as many people as possible. Corporates, citizens, the government, and civil society organizations are working together to address the situation. We are delighted to be partnered by Deutsche Bank, as their support will go a long way in bolstering our efforts under the Health Cannot Wait campaign.”

Talking about the partnership, Kaushik Shaparia, CEO, Deutsche Bank India said, “Our healthcare workers continue to go above and beyond what is expected of them despite the severity of the second wave of the pandemic. Our partnership with Smile Foundation aims to support them through this period with mitigation kits that will provide them with the protection to continue their fight against Covid-19.”

The Health Cannot Wait campaign solicits long-term investment through donations to strengthen COVID care centers with critical supplies like oxygen cylinders, oximeters & oxygen concentrators. It entails the setting up of oxygen banks for critical patient support among vulnerable communities, mobilization of PPE Kits & N-95 Masks for frontline health workers, distribution of Hygiene Kits (including masks, soaps, sanitizers, oximeters), tele-counseling to dispel vaccine hesitancy, spread awareness on COVID-appropriate behavior and the provision of primary healthcare services to reduce the load on existing health infrastructure.

So far, Smile Foundation has provided over 27.7 million meals to more than 200,000 families in 23 states of India. It aims to provide three square meals to more than 250,000 families and is working to provide 50,000 home isolation kits to Covid patients.

An important part of the campaign is the provision of free teleconsultation to the underprivileged through a toll-free number for tele-calling and outreach through bulk SMS service. The tele-consultation emphasizes the personal and community benefits of vaccination. Its objective is to address questions of people who are hesitant to get vaccinated, dispel myths, give them the right information, and encourage them to get vaccinated. So far, Smile Foundation has sensitized more than 100,000 people through tele-counseling and aims to reach out to 500,000 people through this medium.

Smile Foundation is providing doorstep healthcare services to around one million people from 2,200 marginalized communities in 14 states. It aims to benefit 2 million people with mobile hospital & telemedicine projects in FY 21-22.

The Health Cannot Wait campaign has so far provided over 80,000 kits of protective gear to frontline health workers and aims to provide 1 million protective gear kits to frontline health workers. As part of this campaign, so far, over 2,00,000 hygiene kits have been provided to vulnerable communities, and the target is to provide 500,000 hygiene kits.

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation is an NGO in India directly benefitting over 15,00,000 children and their families every year, through more than 400 live welfare projects on education for poor children, healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment, in over 2000 remote villages and slums across 25 states of India. Adopting a life cycle approach of development, Smile Foundation focuses its interventions on children, their families, and the community.

Media Contact:
Sreeparna Chakrabarty: [email protected]. | 9811502059
Website: http://www.smilefoundationindia.org/

 Engagement with + 200,000 students from +200 schools across + 50 cities

 The initiative is focused towards creating awareness on plastic waste management through the student community.

• Competitions across age groups organized to generate mass awareness; special microsite wastenomore.co.in launched; +2000 entries received till date
• Initiative in line with Hon’ble Prime Minister’s call to celebrate Rashtriya Swachhta Diwas onOctober 2, marking Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti

New Delhi, October 2, 2021:  PepsiCo India has partnered Smile Foundation to launch a special initiative on plastic waste management- ‘Waste no More’. The initiative is aligned with Hon’ble Prime Minister’s call to celebrate Rashtriya Swachhta Diwas on October 2, 2021 – Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti. Through this initiative, PepsiCo India is engaging with +200,000 students from + 200 schools across +50 cities in India.

The initiative aims to bring behavioral change, educate the community and students about the importance of preserving the environment and learn more about sustainability. A special microsite wastenomore.co.in has been created to showcase innovative ideas submitted by children from participating schools. These ideas include DIY projects, recycled crafts from plastic waste, videos by children on the importance of plastic waste management, among other activities.

Santanu Mishra, Co-founder and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation said, “Over the last few years we have collaborated with PepsiCo India for driving change across a wide range of subjects and we are delighted to partner with them for ‘Waste No More’. Through this effort, we are sensitizing the country’s young change-makers towards conservation and sustainability and hoping to create a positive impact among school students and the larger community.”

Speaking about the campaign Ahmed ElSheikh, President PepsiCo India said, “Waste no more is a special initiative that is in line with our winning with purpose philosophy of keeping sustainability at the center of our business. Through the initiative we are celebrating the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s call of accomplishing through determination (Sankalp Se Siddhi) of making India clean and safe. We are happy to collaborate with Smile foundation in this regard.”

All submitted entries will be judged by an elite jury, including the likes of reputed contemporary artist Seema Kohli, National award-winning film maker and screenplay writer Teenaa Kaur Pasricha, SVP and Head: Marketing and Communications, Aon India Insurance Brokers & Sustainability influencer, Shreya Krishnan and Professor Sapna A. Narula, Dean, School of Management Studies, Nalanda University.

The initiative has so far received +2000 entries from schools across 50 cities.

About Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation is an Indian development organization directly benefiting over 1.5 million children and families through more than 400 welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment spread across 2,000 villages and urban slums in 25 states.

About PepsiCo India:

PepsiCo entered India in 1989 and has grown to become one of the largest food and beverage businesses in India. PepsiCo India’s diverse portfolio includes iconic brands like Pepsi, Lay’s, Kurkure, Tropicana 100%, Gatorade and Quaker.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. “Winning with Purpose” reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of the business. We believe that continuously improving the products we sell, operating responsibly to protect our planet and empowering people around the world is what enables

PepsiCo to run a successful global company that creates long-term value for society and our shareholders. In 2009, PepsiCo India achieved a significant milestone, by becoming the first business to achieve ‘Positive Water Balance’ in the beverage world, a fact verified by Deloitte Touché Tohmatsu India Pvt. Ltd. The company has been Water Positive since then. For more information, please visitwww.pepsicoindia.co.in

For further information, please contact:

Amit K Nanchahal

PepsiCo India

M – 8130463737; E – [email protected]

Sreeparna Chakrabarty

Smile Foundation

M – 9811502059; E – [email protected].

Website: http://www.smilefoundationindia.org/

Vandana Singh

Six Degrees BCW

M- 7765949000; E- [email protected]