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A CALL TO ACTION
Hi everyone Given the ongoing tragic situation in India, we asked the staff to tell us what the situation is like in the villages. Here are some reports: Suman - teacher Namaste W and G. Thank you so much for being so caring to us. Thank you to the donors too. Four people in our village are C19 positive. One of them passed away. We are safe in our house. We go out only for urgent things and use mask. My grandfather passed away due to Covid. I cannot visit my parents as it would not be safe. We stay indoors as covid is spreading rapidly. We maintain 1m distance when we go out too. Ashok - Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) staff Namaste G and W. Corona is widespread here In every village. Five of my relatives have passed away. Two of my brothers were sick and are recovering now. I am also covid positive, slowly recovering at home. There are a lot of cases around our house. Sunita - RCH There are no facilities in the villages for doctors, medicine or food. Even vaccinated people are falling sick. People are afraid and not getting themselves vaccinated. There are no facilities at the local government Primary Health Centre in Guaru town. Patients are kept in a room in the school. There is no management of timely food or medicine for them. People are dying there. People are scared. Some died due to heart attack. The government has failed us. Influential people go to Patna or Delhi, but even they are dying. For the poor it is even worse. It is a very difficult time. Sarika - RCH I have recovered from Corona but I am very weak, feeling so dizzy when I get up from the bed. My son and my husband are Corona positive and have fever. Now so many people have weakness, it is difficult to walk. The condition of the village is very bad. Many people in my village are Corona positive and a woman has died from Corona. She was 40 years old, her daughter and husband are also Corona positive. The number of people who are having tests in Guraru Block has exceeded 700 and many more. There are people who are not getting the tests done, but they are suffering from fever in their home. When someone is very sick they go to the Guraru PHC and then are taken to Gaya hospital. I have heard there is a shortage of oxygen there too. Anil - RCH Four people are showing signs of Covid in my village and 2 people have died 1 km from here. Some of the people in our WEIV groups also have Covid with fever and cough. I feel that my family and I and all the WEIV staff need help at this time because the system is crumbling everywhere and even the Bihar government is failing to support the people. Shobha - teacher Thank you for the salary. I am Covid positive. I am not getting any taste in food except salty. My husband is fine. But I am not keeping well. My son is also sick. This is a photo of the medicines that we have taken. They cost Rs.1500 ($30AU) From Ritu who helps with translation and is at present in Patna, the capital of Bihar state: "Every day we hear of more friends and family who are sick or have died. People run around trying to find oxygen for those who are really sick. In the rural areas there are only 20 to 30 ventilators per District. There are 10 Blocks to a District. Guraru block has about 240,000 families. Oxygen cylinders are in such short supply. One cylinder used to cost 7,000 rupees and now they are 70 to 80,000 rupees. The scene here is truly apocalyptic." Quite a few of our donors have been asking whether they can help in any way. We have started a Covid Relief Fund. We will initially send $100 to each staff member to cover the cost of medicines, doctors and funeral costs. There are 21 staff. Therefore we need to raise $2,100. We will suggest that they spend it on their families and impoverished neighbours. We know it will be gratefully received. We are exploring other options as well, such as the possibility of helping to support an oxygen facility at the Guraru Primary Health Centre. We will let you know more as information comes to light. PLEASE DONATE WHAT YOU CAN TO OUR COVID RELIEF FUND BSB: 728-728 ACC: 22256190 Academy of Root Development Australia Inc Please ensure you write on the Reference: Covid Relief Fund Thank you in advance Wendy and Graeme |
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