People's Helping Spirit Shines Bright Even in Dark Hours Of COVID-19

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The declaration of a public health emergency like COVID-19 turned our lives upside down. Though it has been a tough time, people were able to overcome it because of their unbeatable spirit to help each other.

It was not only the COVID-19 pandemic but also cascading humanitarian crises that had caused havoc in people's lives. The faith in humanity became deeper when people had the hope and courage to help each other.

‘The COVID-19 pandemic has tested the very spirit of humanity. But even in the darkest hour, People�s spirit to help each other shone brightly.’

Health and social security systems were failing to cope with the severest of the crises during the pandemic (). Despite the overwhelming sense of helplessness and hopelessness, those of us who had access to the internet and resources used social media and other digital technologies to try to be of help to those in acute need - most of whom may not be having access to social media or digital tools.

How People are Trying to Shine a Bright Light During the Darker Days of COVID-19

During the Delta-variant-led COVID-19 wave, people came forward to help people with acutely short services. It was not only COVID-19-related healthcare services or supplies that were in high demand but also a range of other health services had got jeopardized due to the pandemic.

That is why helplines were conceived to respond to COVID-19 and other healthcare needs - a tiny drop in the ocean. One major challenge was to bridge the online/ digital approaches with those working on the ground.

For instance, they mobilized a group of doctors online from a range of super-specialties in India and USA, to volunteer their time for online consultation. Soon after the launch of this helpline, online medical consultation expanded to include WhatsApp-based teleconsultation as it was more familiar to users in rural or suburban Uttar Pradesh state in India. Over 350 people reached out to seek medical help and guidance via this tool.

As the oxygen shortage intensified, a team of volunteers ran a digital campaign to mobilize resources online to procure oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders, oximeters, thermal scanning devices, and other necessities.

They were able to get 11 small (10 liters) and 3 jumbo-sized oxygen cylinders, over 25 oxygen concentrators, medicines, food, 70 oximeters, 60 thermal scanners, and over 8000 hand-stitched masks, among other items. Oxygen was in such short supply that people in need were willing to take empty cylinders from them and get them filled for use ().

Volunteers from rural and suburban areas received a briefing/ hands-on training in a hospital so that they can go back to their areas with oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders, and other essential supplies, and help the people in need. Many of these services got integrated with the primary health centers.

Thanks to social media, online tools, and volunteers, within a few weeks, oxygen concentrators and other necessary supplies were reaching and helping people in need in 18 cities. Food relief packets were provided to 680 families in Lucknow and 100 families in Moradabad for several weeks during the intense phases of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

The most important service was not being done by those behind a computer, but by those in rural and suburban areas who were on the front. There were several rays of light and hope that shone brightly during the dark pandemic.

All these efforts ensured that social movements across India were able to get analytical and critical insights into the government's response (or lack of it) during the pandemic. Corporate capture of public services was alarmingly high during the pandemic, and volunteers played a key role to expose and challenge it, as well as mobilizing movements to call for stronger corporate accountability and public services.

References:

1. Impact of COVID-19 on people's livelihoods, their health and our food systems - (https:www.who.int/news/item/13-10-2020-impact-of-covid-19-on-people's-livelihoods-their-health-and-our-food-systems)
2. The New Humanity: Diversity and Cooperation - (https:www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2022/06/new-humanity-diversity-and-cooperation)

Source: Medindia