COVID-19 RESPONSE: MISSION TO SECURE RURAL COMMUNITIES IN INDIA

India is facing second wave of coronavirus with over 400,000 cases being detected every day and many more going undetected. It is much more intensive and widespread than the first wave. It is being experienced since last one month that the disease has now reached rural areas and started affecting the health and livelihoods of rural people. The outbreak of the second wave of the pandemic has left the country grappling for resources. This time unprecedented and rapid spread of the disease, unprepared and over-burdened healthcare systems, lack of infrastructure to deal with pandemic and poor treatment facilities have made the situation worse. The condition is far worse in rural areas where the disease is spreading rapidly and lack of awareness coupled with poor infrastructure has caused many deaths, most of which go unreported. Most of the rural areas lack basic health infrastructure needed to mitigate the adverse impact of the disease spread. AKRSP(I) has experienced that block and district level hospitals lacks basic services such as testing, beds, medicines, equipment etc to manage the spread of the disease in rural areas. 

AKRSP(I) is trying to secure the health and livelihoods of rural communities through various interventions. This project will help mitigating the impact of the current wave; and will make rural communities and health system better prepared for any future outbreaks. Organization is taking following actions in over 2500 villages of 3 states.

1. Large scale bahaviour change communication to enforce covid appropriate behaviour in rural areas.
2. Promoting vaccination among rural communities to reduce vaccine hesitancy.
3. Supporting government run rural health centers by equipping them with essential material and services such as oximeters, N-95 masks, oxygen concentrators, PPE kit, hygiene material etc.
4. Promoting home isolation or village level isolation for covid positive patients.
5. Counselling and need based support to rural communities.

Overall we plan to reach 2500 villages directly impacting 3.5 million people.

·        Project will contribute to slowing down and halting of disease spread in target geography of 1000 Panchayats benefiting 35 lakh people directly.

·        Project will mitigate the pandemic effect on rural population.

·        Project will contribute to improved effectiveness of rural health system.

·        Project will capacitate rural communities, their leaders and health systems for any possible outbreaks in future.