For the past four months, the world has been witnessing an unusual disaster in the form of COVID-19 pandemic. It has put the lives of poor and vulnerable into more pathetic situations, affecting their health as well as their livelihoods. Every nation across the globe have been confronted with the biggest challenge – Loss of life as well as financial crisis – since the world war-II. DHAN Foundation believes we can fight COVID-19 and restore peace and prosperity among our people with our collective efforts. It is our duty to extend our humanitarian support to our fellow brothers and sisters who are in distress, to show them we are there for them.
“Let us all come together and give the poor and vulnerable sections the much needed hope for the future”
At DHAN, we are committed to support our communities to combat the pandemic. Our more than 18 lakhs families spread across the nation – from the natives of Assam in the north east, tribals of Rajasthan in north west, and the fishermen of Ramnad in southern part – needs support from every one of you to construct their lives post-pandemic.
DHAN Foundation has conceived addressing the pandemic disaster into three phases at national level:
- 1. Relief Phase for the next three months,
- 2. Restoration and Rehabilitation Phase for the next two to three years, and subsequently graduating to
- 3. Sustainable Resilience Phase in the long run.
Of all the three phases, the relief phase is very crucial in maintaining the harmony among the various sections of the people in the community. The nation awaits generous hands to come together to stand with the vulnerable communities.
Presently in the relief phase, the community need support in the form of:
- a. First aid/ Medical kits
- b. Grocery items
- c. Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) – Reusable Masks
- d. Tele-Medical services
- e. Information dissemination and counselling
First Aid/ Medical Kits
Hospitals across the nations fighting to accommodate the covid-19 patients. Doctors and medical practitioners are employed testing and treating the covid patients. Prevailing situations at the hospitals forges one to have medical kits available at their houses to safeguard and treat themselves for small ailments.
“Providing first aid or medical kits in the areas of COVID-19 spread – Rs. 500 per Kit per Family”
Grocery items
Though the governments announced relief benefits to the vulnerable sections, the prevailing conditions and the future employment uncertainties are forcing the people to save the money and ration by spending less and eating less. Staying put at homes without work itself affecting the vulnerable sections psychologically, to this added the food deprivations and idle minds pushing the people to become mentally sick. With the support of donors, vegetables, fruits and grocery items (excluding government relief items) will be provided to all the vulnerable households in the locations.
“Providing groceries for the families who affected due to lockdown – Rs. 1000 per pack per family”
Reusable Masks: Livelihood creation/Combating COVID-19
There is a dire need of masks since the pandemic. Governments unable to meet the demands encouraged the people to use homemade masks, yet the protection the homemade masks offers is uncertain. DHAN Foundation’s women federation members have been operating tailoring centre across various districts in the country. Amidst lockdown, there is a disruption in the tailoring unit families’ livelihood as well. With the support of donors, raw materials will be procured and with the local administration support it will be transported to the tailoring centers for mask making. The masks will be distributed to the hospitals, local administrations and public at large, free of cost.
For the federations without tailoring units, with the pooled money from the donors’ masks will be directly transported.
“Providing reusable masks for the communities under isolation – Rs. 1500 per 100 masks”
Tele-Medical services
Lockdown has been so effective in breaking the transmission chain by containing the communal spread. Yet the suddenness of the decision resulted in unpreparedness by the communities. Pandemic has transformed every hospital more or less into an isolation camp. This resulted in difficulty in availing medical treatment for general health issues. SUHAM, the health initiative of DHAN Foundation with its medical experts providing Tele-medicine services since lockdown.
“Tele-medical services for the communities – Rs. 10,000 per month per location”
Information dissemination and counselling
Prevailing uncertainties demand a need to disseminate right information, psychological counselling, Livelihood counselling and Financial counselling. Community call centers will be established for information dissemination and counselling.
- The Call Centers will provide information dissemination through Voice SMS, Text SMS
- Doctors & Health Experts for psychological counselling, resource person from respective department for Livelihood counselling and financial experts for evolving financial plan would help the poor households in achieving a better life.
“Information dissemination and counselling to poor through community call centers – Rs. 15,000 per month”