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EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO COVID-19

by HelpAge India

With the second wave being much more infectious and widespread, India continues to witness the immense distress faced by the poor and needy. Across the country, we have seen livelihoods destroyed, daily wage earners rendered penniless, starving families, migrants trudging hundreds of miles on foot back home to villages, mostly hungry and often stranded. We are also witnessing the burgeoning of Covid at alarming rates.
The repercussions of the disease itself, and of the increasing number of lockdowns implemented across some of our States to prevent its spread, are of grave concern. The challenge is especially acute in poorer states with significant populations living hand-to-mouth.
It is also a known fact that the elderly face the highest risk of fatality from the disease. The ongoing situation has become a major cause of worry for India’s elderly. Social Distancing has its own challenges for elders, many of whom are already struggling with loneliness, restricted mobility, and lack of financial security. Senior citizens make up about 9% of India’s population, and about half of them (i.e. over 50 million) are extremely poor.

With the pandemic spreading faster than ever, the marginalized and vulnerable are getting further ignored and neglected under the lockdown. They need help now.

HelpAge is working hard to protect the needy against Covid-19, especially our poor and vulnerable elderly who face the highest risk. Our work until now has included Vaccination Facilitation, provision of survival kits consisting of dry rations, immunity boosters, and protective hygiene items, provision of essential primary medical treatment via a nationwide Mobile Health Unit network, rapid response support via a National Elders Helpline, Digital Literacy Training to elders to enable them to conduct important work online without leaving their homes, widespread awareness generation, and much more.

PROVISION OF FULL FAMILY SURVIVAL PACKAGES (DRY RATIONS WITH HYGINE ITEMS)

Across India, we are hearing pleas for food and safety needs among all the marginalised and vulnerable communities including the poor rural elders and their families.

We propose Family Survival kits with hygiene items consisting of Daily essentials (groceries), Corona Protection measures of masks, Bathing, washing soaps, Vitamins etc. This package has been made in consultation with the Communities of Elderly and would help a family of 5 persons tide over the immediate situation. The Kit considers the support provided by the Administration and is as an add-on to meet the Gaps.

Indicative list of items include Rice (5 Kgs), Wheat (5kgs), Toor Dal (2Kgs), Chana Dal (1Kg), Sugar (1Kg), Salt (1Kg), Cooking Oil (1Lt.), Kitchen Masala Powders (5 packets), 6 bath soaps, 1 Detergent bar (400gms) and Reusable multi layered masks (5 pcs). The cost of the Survival Kit is estimated at Rs.2100/- per package including distribution. 1 Oximeter can be added at an additional cost of Rs. 1000/- per kit.

Hospitals and healthcare providers are running out of resources in their fight against the pandemic and the situation on the ground is dire. Oxygen and other COVID relief equipment is critically needed by hospitals to treat patients. People struggling outside hospitals, daily wagers looking for that one person who can help them with their meal for the day, healthcare workers being overburdened and other gut wrenching sights surround us right now.

PROVISION OF COVID RELIEF EQUIPMENT TO OLD AGE HOMES AND NEEDY SENIOR CITIZEN ASSOCIATIONS :
This includes Oxygen Concentrator, Pulse Oximeter, Thermal Scanner and Touchless Sanitizer.

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