Deepak foundation help desk provide support to people in need

The second wave of COVID pandemic left a trail of devastation. As the deadly pandemic ravaged rural population, they were in a denial mode. Locals avoided testing in fear of social isolation, loss of any support if tested positive and fear of spreading the infections.

The critical cases who were rushed to the tertiary care facilities in urban areas were left frantically looking for cost-effective options as the goverment's free-of-cost facilities were already chalk-a-block. The facilities are also geared to promote vaccination among catchment population and supports in linking the govt.'s relief schemes and programs meant for eligible households.

Deepak Foundation's Help Desks established in two district-level hospitals in Vadodara aimed at guiding and counselling caretakers of critical cases seeking treatment at district hospitals, provide support to those needing blood, medicines, diagnostic services, medico legal help, assistance in getting birth and death certificates.

During COVID period, nearly 20,000 COVID-19 cases were guided and counselled for treatment which included 12,597 patients at emergency ward of SSG hospital and 5645 family members of patients seeking care at designated COVID care facility Gujarat Medical and Education Research Society (GMERS) Hospital of Vadodara district. It also served as a designated 24 x7 COVID Control Room," said Archana Joshi, Director, Deepak Foundation.

Deepak Foundation continued with its multi-pronged relief measures during the second Covid-19 wave in the FY 2021-22 by initiating three dedicated Covid-19 Care Centers (CCC) to support the Government in overcoming the COVID-19. The total capacity of the CCCs initiated till date is 150 beds across sites for patients needing hospital care. Two CCCs has been initiated in Gujarat (Vadodara district and Chhota Udepur district) and one CCC has been operationalized in Maharashtra (Palghar district).

In Karachiya village near Savli block, the Counsellors went door to door for clearing the misinformation and even helped in booking vaccine slots on Cowin app. The community reach workers reach out to sleepy hamlet like Dugdha in Naswadi Block, Chhota Udepur district where a single bar of network is unavailable. Even in the tribal district of Chhota Udepur, posters with the advantages of vaccination are used to make villagers aware.