Asha’s response to COVID-19: Providing care to slum communities in India

Jean Oulund Peteet,John R Peteet,Louanne Hempton,Kiran Martin

doi:10.15566/cjgh.v7i4.471

Jean Oulund Peteet, John R Peteet + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.15566/cjgh.v7i4.471

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Abstract

Slum populations, the most vulnerable to COVID-19, are emerging as hotspots for transmission of the virus. Comprehensive strategies for addressing this challenge exist, but reports of effective models for implementing them have been lacking. Asha, a 33-year old health and community development organization in Delhi, India has responded to the pandemic by activating well-developed networks in the community to enact a range of interventions with encouraging results. The success of Asha in controlling COVID-19 in the slums reflects the realization of the values Asha promotes in the community: dignity, empowerment, justice, non-violence, compassion, gratitude, generosity, optimism, joy, and simplicity. Although developed by a team of Christians and those of other faiths on Asha’s staff, these values enjoy broad-based support within a pluralistic, Hindu-influenced society.

Highlights

Nowhere are the needs for holistic solutions greater than for the estimated one billion slum dwellers worldwide who are vulnerable to the effects of disease, poverty, and despair, live on land that does not belong to them in constant fear of eviction, and are surrounded by substance abuse, domestic violence, garbage, and political corruption.[1]Recognizing that slums are emerging hotspots for viral transmission, the WHO and the World Bank have called for phased, integrated, multisectoral support to slums.[2,3,4] Recommended short-term strategies emphasize health, community engagement and communications; social protection, jobs, and institutional support; leveraging data for transparency, monitoring, and response; and access to basic services and adequate housing
The Asha team knew they had to react immediately to stave off a humanitarian disaster in slum dwellers at higher risk because they were unable to socially distance, lacked access to masks and water for washing, and needed education in behavioral practices to lessen their exposure to COVID-19. (Figure 1)
Recognizes that, even under the pressure to address immediate need, it is essential to address longer term values as Central to Asha’s Approach The success of Asha in controlling COVID-19 in the slums reflects the realization of the values Asha promotes in the community: dignity, empowerment, justice, non-violence, compassion, gratitude, generosity, optimism, joy, and simplicity. We believe that these were demonstrated by its staff and volunteers who risked their own health to combat the humanitarian crisis of COVID-19

Summary

Introduction

Nowhere are the needs for holistic solutions greater than for the estimated one billion slum dwellers worldwide who are vulnerable to the effects of disease, poverty, and despair, live on land that does not belong to them in constant fear of eviction, and are surrounded by substance abuse, domestic violence, garbage, and political corruption.[1]. On 24th March 2020, the Government of India overnight shut down the country in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19 This had an immediate catastrophic impact on those living in the slums. The migration had other effects such as mental stress in the slum dwellers who decided to stay on. The Asha team knew they had to react immediately to stave off a humanitarian disaster in slum dwellers at higher risk because they were unable to socially distance, lacked access to masks and water for washing, and needed education in behavioral practices to lessen their exposure to COVID-19. To malnourished women and adolescent girls, a nutritious drink rich in calories and protein was provided along with iron and vitamin supplements. (Figure 3)

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