Mumbai’s Covid-19 warriors accorded a logo honour

Faiyyaz and Mizga Sheikh at their residence in Malad; Shahnawaz Shaikh at the NGO that he runs in Malad; and Rozy and Pascal Saldanah at their Malvani home, on Monday. Pics/Satej Shinde

Covid-19 warriors first featured in mid-day are among 100 do-gooders chosen from across the country for a multinational giant's felicitation campaign. Two couples and a Malad-based man who were featured in mid-day for their exceptional work during the pandemic, are part of the celebration kicked off by Dettol.

Rozy and Pascal Saldanah, residents of Malvani, had sold their jewellery to buy oxygen cylinders for needy Covid-19 patients. After mid-day reported about their efforts, Ketto, an online crowdfunding platform spread their cause across the world and raised Rs 35 lakh.

Rozy and Pascal featured on a bottle of Dettol hand wash

The Saldanahs have now ordered an ambulance van, which will be given free of cost to needy patients. As the delivery of the van is awaited, the Saldanahs have bought a second-hand car, which will be used as an ambulance to ferry patients and carry oxygen cylinders.

They also plan to buy and distribute free medicines and supply dialysis kits to more than 2,500 families. The Saldanahs have decided to continue the work even after the pandemic in order to help patients. Shahnawaz Shaikh, a Malad resident running an NGO, sold his SUV to buy oxygen cylinders, which he provides free of cost to needy Covid-19 patients in home quarantine. Shaikh and Abbas Rizvi, who run Unity and Dignity Foundation, distributed ration kits and food to thousands of migrant labourers. Dettol, while recognising their efforts, has also provided five oxygen concentrators.

Also Read: Covid-19: Mumbai sees fall in both fresh case numbers and TPR

Spent on relief work

Faiyyaz and Mizga Sheikh, a Malvani school owner, who had set aside money to buy a new house, spent all of it on relief work during the lockdown. The Sheikhs also provided shelter to nine families hit by Cyclone Tauktae. They continue to provide food to 300 plus residents.

Dilen Gandhi, regional marketing director, South Asia - Health and Nutrition, Reckitt, said, "True to Dettol's legacy of being a protector, #DettolSalutes is our way of paying tribute to the many other protectors in the country. We believe these stories when shared, give a sense of much-needed optimism among those seeing them. Therefore, as a brand, we have for the first time in Dettol's history, given up our logo to share their actions. As the packs carry these stories, we believe they will also carry a message of hope across our country." About four million products carrying pictures of the Covid warriors will be available on e-commerce websites and across five lakh stores in the country from the third week of June.