Corona means Time to demonstrate (continue)
- Courage
- Optimism
- Resilience
- Obedience to call from respective Government
- Nimbleness
- Adaptability
Robots to the rescue: This disinfectant system can help contain the spread of coronavirus
Last week, a group of seven accredited social health activists, or ASHAs, were asked to visit 300 houses in Bengaluru’s Gauripada. The Bengaluru corporation’s health department instructed them to “impart information” on COVID-19 after a person in the area showed symptoms of the virus and was sent to a hospital to be tested.
Nagalaxmi V, 43, was one of the ASHAs deputed for this purpose. They had received no specific training on how to go about it, she said and relied on pamphlets handed to them by the health department. To compound their problems, the people whose doors they knocked on were angry.
“The people in the area were shouting at us: ‘Why have you come? You do not even have a doctor with you.’ Our superintendent asked us to shoot a video. We told her that they are not even letting us talk, let alone shoot a video,” Nagalaxmi said.
She added: “At the time, we were only wearing masks we brought. You can imagine how scared we were. What if there was someone positive for coronavirus in the area? Don’t we have a life, don’t we have a home, don’t we have children?”
Nagalaxmi has three children. Her husband works as a contract worker with the Bengaluru municipality.
ASHAs have been an integral part of the Indian public health system for more than 10 years. By imparting health education and spreading awareness on government schemes, these community health workers are involved in every single public health programme in the country. This includes registering women for antenatal check-ups, vaccination of children, doing surveillance for TB control, and conducting tests for the diagnosis of malaria. Their role has been well documented as being successful in improving access to maternal health facilities and reducing malaria.
Their work is voluntary, receiving a meagre honorarium ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000. They also get incentives, which are dependent on the jobs they do in a month. Most ASHAs do not receive their payments on time. In January, ASHAs in Karnataka went on a strike after being unpaid for 15 months.
And with COVID-19, they are in uncharted waters.
Most of the workers were not trained to understand the virus’s symptoms, prevention or control. Many of them haven’t been provided with personal protection equipment like masks, sanitiser and gloves; some workers received equipment only after repeated demands made through their unions.
According to the government’s Model Micro plan for Containment of Local Transmission, an ASHA should be deployed to interact with the community, report symptomatic cases, conduct contact tracing, monitor people under quarantine, and provide information on preventive public health measures. ASHAs have been asked to cover a range of 20-25 houses in rural areas to 60 houses in urban areas.
“In this case, we are not even keeping a record of how many houses we visited,” said Nagalaxmi. “This job will be completely unaccounted for.”
‘We are working even if we are scared’
Caution of Coronavirus (To be followed 100%)
- Observe Lock-Down instructions issued by Government
- Remember” No one is a Superhero”, Take care of yourself
- Wash your hands frequently
- Wear the mask, whenever you go out
- Maintain social distancing
- Work from Home
- Better to do testing by Authorised Labs
Seven Positive Reaffirmations
Positive reaffirmation is the bandwidth or Thinking highway, within which one is required to regulate the thoughts. The personality of the person is determined by the thought process of the person.
Based on the experience following are the seven Positive Reaffirmations :
- While going out to the workplace “Think Day would be good” & All is well
- Belief on self “Yes, I can & I will.”- I am the winner
- Happiness is my birthright
- Every Problem has a seed of a solution
- Whatever will do, do good for others & will help the needy
- Will see keys instead of locks, look for Possibilities, Solutions & Options
- This time will also pass.
Constant chanting of these reaffirmations will contribute to Positive Transformation.
“Persevere Consistently to Achieve Your Goals. Don’t leave until you reach your goal.”
Today’s Quote
God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh. -Voltaire-
Gratitude:
We on behalf of all, pay our Gratitude to our leadership for timely action on Lockdown, All Doctors, Nurses, Army, Police, Front liner workers carrying out essential services etc.
Be a part of “Positivity Mission” by sharing with your family members, associates etc through Facebook, Instagram and other Social Media.
An Effort of “Plus Approach Foundation” to penetrate the darkness with the light of Hope, Optimism, Patience, Endurance (HOPE)