The COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed our lives. India is suffering from a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases, and it’s healthcare system has been overwhelmed with the world’s second-most populous country reporting more than 330,000 new COVID-19 cases daily since April 20. Big cities like Mumbai and Delhi are the worst affected.
PRASAD Chikitsa works in a remote, rural area in the Tansa Valley that fortunately has not yet been affected by this new wave. But the population we serve has very limited resources and is in constant need of a wide range of supportive services, so we need to be vigilant.
We work with the more than 250,000 tribal Adivasi people who live at or below the poverty line in small, rural villages and hamlets, across the Tansa Valley.
Even though India is again in lockdown, our medical services are still open Monday – Saturday. The agriculture and community development projects continue, and our team is in contact with our health workers in the villages.
The local food markets are open until 11 AM, and, so far, people have access to food. Because of the critical situation, our team is continuously assessing the needs in the area to determine how we can best help with health care and other essential services.
As India is our main focus of services, we will provide extra support for COVID relief by partnering with Americares, a respectable nonprofit organization that has its own staff and operations in India, to provide the following services:
Strengthening COVID Facilities: including providing existing health facilities with life-saving equipment like ventilators, oxygen machines, hospital beds, crash carts, etc, and fully outfitting and equipping a 30-bed ICU for COVID patients in Mumbai.
Protecting Health Workers: including providing PPE, disinfectants, and other infection prevention supplies
Preparing Communities: including providing face masks and COVID awareness, safety practices and vaccination education to communities
Working together we can have more impact, saving more lives.
Please support our relief efforts. Donate today.
Thank you!
Stay well.
Sincerely,
Dr. M. Cecilia Escarra
Executive Director
