By Debadutta Dash | Secretary, Sukarya USA
As many cities face record daily deaths in India, new cases have plunged in the Delhi and Gurugram slum communities in recent weeks as the Sukarya volunteers and public health officials bolstered anti-virus measures first put in place last year - from mass testing to disinfections in public areas while organizing health awareness camps on a regular basis.
“Our surroundings are being cleaned every day since the last year as against once a week earlier. Thanks to Sukarya staff and volunteers, there’s soap, sanitizer, dry ration kit, some healthy snacks, and a box for disposing of sanitary pads that were otherwise strewn around, for every household," said Babita.
“People are also more cautious now: they are using masks and sanitizers because of regular health awareness camps by Sukarya,” said the mother-of-two.
A testing protocol including free tests for tens of thousands of residents was revived as cases crept into double digits, fever camps were set up to scan for symptoms, and quarantine facilities set up by government officials last year were reopened. Despite vaccine shortages, announcements have blared out from loudspeakers across the slums, urging residents to get vaccinated. Another campaign sought to overcome vaccine hesitancy by offering free soap and dray-ration kits to anyone getting their jab.
“There is strong community outreach by Team Sukarya, contact tracing continues with the help of officials and Sukarya volunteers while public areas are being deep cleaned with jet sprays and health awareness camps and cleanliness drives are being held on a regular basis, said Meera Satpathy, founder & chairperson of Sukarya, listing factors that helped the slums turn the tide.
Despite a cautious optimism that the worst is over, Sukarya volunteers along with public health officials are already making plans for a possible third wave, including setting up facilities for children, who are not yet eligible for vaccination.
“We can’t assume everything is okay... every wave has its own challenges,” said Meera.
“But there is a positive impact of these changes in our slum communities on children who have had an early exposure to good habits. And that will be a permanent change.”
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