Decision-support tool for coordination of volunteers in large-scale lockdowns

Abstract

In this study, we designed a geospatial and mathematical tool for the distribution of volunteers during lockdowns to aid vulnerable groups in obtaining supplies, within the context of underdeveloped regions with insufficient resources and data. We established services proximity, senior-citizen population and marginalisation as crucial aspects of the model, which was developed in three stages: (1) assessing residential proximity to services by Voronoi diagram, (2) calculating the number of volunteers needed based on senior-citizen population and proximity to services, and (3) identifying the distress index of neighbourhoods for a sequential allocation of volunteers focused on equity. We applied the tool in the municipality of Atizapán de Zaragoza (Mexico) and identified the most-conservative scenario for volunteers without motorised transport attending to the entire senior-citizen population. The tool provides decision-support according to available resources and socioeconomic circumstances and ensures effective and equitable assistance to citizens during large-scale health contingencies.