Free Covid Vaccines for 5,000 Indian Diamond Workers
July 19, 21
(IDEX Online) - Free Covid vaccines are being given to 5,000 diamond artisans in Mumbai, India, following an industry-wide Diamond Aid appeal.
It was launched in April after a catastrophic spike in Covid fatalities. The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) pledged urgent action to help hospitals in the manufacturing and trading hubs of Surat and Mumbai.
The campaign raised "many tens of thousands of dollars" from individuals and industry organizations.
The vaccination drive, initially for 5,000 workers, is being organized in conjunction with the Indian Gem & Jewellery National Relief Foundation (GJNRF) the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and the Bharat Diamond Bourse.
Yoram Dvash, WFDB president, said: "We launched the Diamond Aid campaign out of a deep sense of mutual responsibility for the diamond community worldwide. Through our efforts, we were able to mobilize the support of large parts of the diamond and jewelry world."