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Basic HealthCare Services supports communities to cope with lockdown and COVID-19
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Preparing and mounting response
We continue to run the clinics and have instituted a series of measures to prevent infection among staff members. The measures include shifting the clinic outdoors, ensuring distancing among waiting patients, triaging and having a separate counter for patients with cough and cold, decreasing physical contacts, having a separate sanitizer for each staff and use of face-masks.
Our reorganization of AMRIT Clinics was cited as a good practice in an article in Indian Express.
Click here to read full article.
We have drawn some insights from our experiences and initiatives followed at BHS in order to support the primary healthcare teams so that they can manage themselves and communities with a calm understanding in these troubled times.
Click here to read full article.
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Ensuring continuity of nutrition for young children
While we have stopped children from coming to Phulwaris- Day Care Centres, our workers cook food and deliver to the children’s households. In wake of many families losing their livelihoods, it is critical to ensure that the children receive proper nutrition.
Khanki* shares, there isn't enough food at her household to cook separate meals for children and adults. She added that her children are very happy to see the worker coming to their home to deliver the food everyday.
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Delivering drugs at households for chronically
ill patients
Lockdown poses a significant challenge for patients who are bed-ridden due to chronic conditions, accidents or being terminally ill. With members being bed-ridden, this results in the further vulnerability of the members of the family and lack of access to facilities, supplies and healthcare.Our nurses and health workers have attempted to provide this critical access to care, counselling and support in terms of delivering medicines and supplies.
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Active surveillance of COVID situation
Our team at Primary Health Centre, Nithauwa (managed in partnership with Govt. of Rajasthan) is managing an average daily OPD of 90 - 100 patients in the present times. At the same time, the team of ANMs and ASHAs undertake active community outreach in raising awareness about COVID 19, promote precautionary measures and active screening of families.
In total, we have surveyed 4883 households where our team screened 17,884 people. Out of which there were 13 suspected patients who were then referred for further care. None of the referred patient were found to be positive for COVID.
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Relief for vulnerable families
The recent lockdown has pushed many families into precarious living, adding to their vulnerabilities.With support from our funders and our partner, Aajeevika Bureau, we provided dry rations to the most vulnerable households, who were suddenly pushed to the brink. We are also beginning to identify families and doing our bit by providing dry ration for two weeks, within our catchment area and beyond.By far,we have provided food kits to 900 families.
In picuture is a house located in the remote village of Rawach,Udaipur.It is home to a visually impaired mother and her mentally challenged son.Our team of health volunteers visited them to find no food supplies at their disposal, and assisted them with food supplies.
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Providing knowledge,addressing myths
We have started telephonic counseling to address fears, concerns and stigmas associated with COVID-19. We started calling community members that are our volunteers and influential people like Sarpanchs and teachers in the community to understand the ongoing myths and stories within the community along with addressing their doubts,while providing right information. We have compiled our experiences in an article.
Click here to read full article.
“Bhopaas (faith healers) who expel spirits say that clanging plates will chase the disease away,” said a villager. A rumor that a mahua drink would give protection against coronavirus has created a high demand for the alcohol.
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We,at BHS, have also been writing up blogs and articles to share our insights, provide perspectives and bring the attention on those who are most influenced by the situation
Here are few links to the articles:
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From times before COVID-19
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Exploring design elements for primary healthcare models
Primary Healthcare Initiative,a joint initiative of BHS with IIM Udaipur organised a Consultation to discuss the way to improve care-seeking behaviour, demand for, and utilization of primary healthcare services. The consultation also discussed on the operations and appropriate technology for primary healthcare in rural areas along with research, policy and partnerships for primary healthcare.
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Repair and maintenance of medical equipment-vital for uninterrupted quality care
Equipment and instruments such as Pulse Oximeter, BP Instrument, Fetal doppler, Autoclave Machine and Radiant Warmer play an important role in providing quality primary healthcare in remote areas. However, their repair is not easy because of remoteness.
In the month of February,we organized a training program for our staff members on preventive maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of these devices.
Little did we knew that, soon this training would be put-into effect during these times. Since the lockdown, repair and maintenance of these medical equipment has been taken by our trained staff members.
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If you wish to support us in any other way, please check the below links.
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