Lenskart Foundation launches a public service initiative, kick-starts a COVID-19 Relief Helpline

As India grapples the most unprecedented times, Lenskart, India’s fastest growing eye-wear brand under its Lenskart Foundation, launches a COVID Relief Helpline. With an aim to offer a helping hand to many in need, the purely whats-app- based helpline allows anyone to message on the number with their requirement and help they need regarding COVID-19. For e.g. medicines, injections, oxygen support, getting lab tests done etc. The helpline also provides expert-information on what to do if diagnosed with COVID-19, helps patients connect with COVID-expert doctors, finding bed in a hospital/ ICU/ ventilator etc.

While the helpline facilitates the information, the brand Lenskart Foundation with its partnered panel of doctors also helps in managing the COVID-19 disease at home. They are also creating a nursing department (ICU trained nurses) within the Foundation for virtual calls that can be done with patients under home-isolation. Apart from this, the Foundation has partnered with reliable pathology Labs like Dr. Lal Pathlabs to expedite and prioritize home pick- up of samples from the patients.

Commenting on the announcement, Nidhi Mittal Bansal, Chairperson, Lenskart Foundation said, “India is grappling with one of the biggest health crisis and we wanted to extend our support to the society and people. While the Government is taking all the necessary measures to help combat the pandemic, this step by us is just to amplify their efforts in reaching out to the masses. This WhatsApp- based COVID-relief helpline is aimed at helping everyone who’s dealing with the disease at the moment. Everyone can message us for getting the right doctor consultation, finding hospital beds, oxygen cylinders, or finding the lab that can come home for the tests, we are just a chat away. However, our main agenda is to help people manage COVID at home, right from day 1 of symptoms, so as to help avoid hospitalisation at a later stage. Over 80% of COVID patients suffer mild to moderate symptoms that can be effectively treated at home, with right advice. That’s what we do when anyone reaches out to us.” 

Amidst this time of uncertainty, doubts and myths, the  brand Lenskart Foundation has prepared an information glossary highlighting the do’s and don’ts, precautionary details and more which will be circulated amongst the people to help clear all the myths. They have created a state as well as city wise resource pool of services such as food delivery to COVID-19 patients, oxygen, medicines, and other amenities. “An experienced Pharma executive with a strong network, has joined the team. His in-depth knowledge of drugs, and where they are available, what’s fake, has helped us assist quite a few patients,” Nidhi added.

With a Pan-India presence, the Foundation has received more than 200 requests from across Delhi-NCR, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, states like Jammu, Punjab, Uttarakhand among other places, and have positively managed to  help over 100 people (out of danger or have recovered from COVID-19).