This year COVID-19 is reaching not only city people, but also those in villages. Many villagers were gripped by this disease and village folk, including people of Arpana groups, even died.
The Arpana Organization along with the SHG Federations, Janshakti Mahila Vikas and Unnati Sangathan, made endless efforts to prevent this disease.
What was learned from the work done during the COVID-19 period last year was very useful this year i.e. mobile numbers, WhatsApp groups and training on using WhatsApp.
Mobile numbers of groups and group members were available.
Arpana shared information to prevent COVID-19 through the WhatsApp groups formed by self help group women in the villages.
Arpana workers and trainers telephoned the group members when the COVID-19 tsunami struck.
A senior SHG member listens, as her grand daugther reads out a messge from Arpana
They talked to persons suffering from COVID-19, who had no one coming to the house and were lacking essentials. Arpana workers gave them information by phone and helped bring them out of this difficult time.
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Waves of Messages spead to scores of SHG’s leaders each month across 100 villages |
By working together with Arpana workers and trainers, about 6,000 people of the present 900 groups in 100 villages, were given detailed information about protocols and rescue from COVID-19 through phone and WhatsApp messages in May 2021.
To maintain social distancing, washing hands, wearing double masks and keeping their house clean.
SHG women were motivated to share prevention methods with two neighbours.
Home remedies, i.e. making decoction (Kaadha), to protect against COVID-19.
Schemes announced by the government were shared so that they could take direct advantage of these schemes:
Free food rations to all poor families.
Government insurance which provides Rs. 5,000 per day in any private hospital for families who had COVID-19 patients in serious condition. The government will bear the total expenditure up to Rs.35,000.
Arpana Supports the Health System in 2nd Wave
Due to the high number of COVID-19 patients in the cities, the whole system collapsed. It was difficult to get oxygen. Too many deaths were happening. Seeing all this, an ambiance of fear arose among the people of the villages.
In such situations, Arpana workers and trainers informed them in detail about how they can come out of COVID-19 by using home remedies. Many patients of COVID-19 adopted these tips and came out of COVID-19. The home remedies that were shared are as follows:
Recommended to drink herbal decoction (Kaadha)
To inhale more and more steam
Told to gargle with alum
This information was shared with all the group members by telephone and Whatsapp messages, and shared by the group members with the people around them. Information included:
How oxygen is utilized in the body and the symptoms of low oxygen
How oxygen can be replenished naturally
Different exercises to increase the level of oxygen
If the symptoms of low oxygen in the body are visible, then the level of oxygen can be increased by breathing exercies lying on the bed on the stomach. About 75 people benefited from this exercise and they were saved from going to the hospital.
Haryana Govt. Launched a Kit for Home Isolation COVID Patients
Haryana government launched a kit in May 2021, for Covid-affected patients under treatment in home isolation. The kit contains: Allopathic medicines, oral rehydration solution packets, a pulse oximeter, masks, a digital thermometer and a steamer. Ayurvedic medicines were also included, i.e. AYUSH Kwath (powdered herbs), giloy ghanvati tablets and anu oil. Also a booklet with complete information related to COVID-19.
All pAtients who tested positive in ArpAnA’s cAmps, received this kit.
Covid Medical Camps in May 2021
During the Covid epidemic, patients with fever, headache, etc. started appearing in every other house in the villages. Some villages had to be sealed off to contain the epidemic.
Arpana officers went to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in Karnal and told him about the situation in the villages. The CMO requested Arpana to help the government in the villages.
In May, Arpana set up Covid Camps in villages. Their main objectives were:
to tell people how to avoid COVID-19
to identify and treat infected patients
make arrangements for isolation
Patients examined in village Raipura
Where the situation was very bad, Arpana worked with the village Panchayat. Arpana workers, the Asha workers and the Anganwadi teachers together, conducted door-to-door surveys. Sick people were identified and motivated to attend Arpana’s Covid Medical Camps.
Arpana held Covid Medical Camps in the villages where patients had been evaluated by Arpana workers. Patients were then examined by doctors and given medicines. Most patients were also tested for Covid and those who were found to be infected, were prepared to be sent to the Government Hospital or to be isolated at home.
Free medicines and tests were given to all the patients in the camp.
Village Camps organized by Arpana were covered by the media.
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Special Vaccination Camps for Safety of Differently-Abled Persons
On May 31 and June 2, 2021, a special vaccination campaign was conducted for differently- abled persons by both the District Administration, Karnal, and the Arpana organization, in village Budhakhera and in the Red Cross Bhawan.
The main objectives of this campaign were to make differently-abled persons aware of vaccinations and to make them aware of the dangers of COVID-19 and therefore to avoid it.
Vaccination Camps | 2 |
Differently abled persons vaccinated | 127 |
Vaccinations for the Differently-Abled
Dr. Neelam, Deputy CMO, Mr. Satyavan, District Social Welfare Officer, Dr. Sunil and Mr. Chaudhary, Secretary Red Cross, arrived at the camp and encouraged the disabled persons.
All the visiting guests gave complete information to the differently-abled members about how vaccination is beneficial in the prevention of COVID-19.
In this camp, the differently-abled persons of villages Baragaon, Khirajpur and Budhakhera were given the COVID-19 vaccination.
There is a lot of misconception in the villages about the COVID-19 vaccine and therefore, people are afraid to take the vaccine. To counter this, a special campaign was launched for all SHG members and their families. Misconceptions are being cleared and doubts laid to rest about the vaccine as they are being prepared to take the injections.
The whole process of getting vaccinated was explained and assistance was given to register for vaccination by telephone and WhatsApp.
The vaccination status of group members was checked and all were urged to get vaccinated.
Village folk were told how to access relevant Apps from the Government:
Arogya App, which shows infected people in the local area,
Umang App which enables people to access important Government services online.
Activities for a “Vaccine Shield” against the Upcoming COVID-19 Third Wave
Arpana is preparing a “Vaccine Shield” to protect against the expected 3rd Wave of COVID-19 so that antibodies are already in a large percentage of people through:
Training of SHG women as Peer Educators about COVID-19
To clear misconceptions about the vaccine by educating SHG women and dispelling pervasive fears and superstition through village meetings, role plays and home visits.
Community education and mobilization at village level Through Meetings, Role Plays, Home Visits, etc.
Arpana, in partnership with District Health Authorities and Panchayats, will promote vaccination drives in different villages
Turn by turn, these vaccinations will provide security cover to all village families.
Arpana extends its heartfelt gratitude to…
… Friends of Kalpana and Jaydev Desai, whose heartfelt support of rural folk for information, treatment and care during the first year of the COVID-19 Pandemic, saved many from contracting the disease, from spreading the dreaded virus, from hospitalization and from death.
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