In a new column in which Christian humanitarian and mission organisations report on their operations, SALLY BRUCE, of DFN (Dignity Freedom Network), reports on the difference the organisation’s health teams are making in India…
The COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc across India. Hospitals are overrun and face a huge lack of hospital beds, equipment and medicines. It is the most vulnerable who have least access to medical care, leaving people terrified of contracting the disease. Many more fear death by starvation, thousands are in despair.
With four ‘hub’ clinics servicing 20 sub-clinics with telehealth capability, and 150 community health workers, Dignity Freedom Network has a goal to bring significant relief to at least one million of the most vulnerable people in 50 or more locations across the country during this crisis.
‘Mr L’ receives life-saving care. PICTURE: DFN.
The severity of the impact of the second wave across many of the northern states is massively under-reported in the news. Much of the area is rural, and backward in terms of literacy, child rights, women’s rights, education and healthcare.
In one district, our team have been running a clinic, a school and a community health program for more than a decade. The clinic works closely alongside the government health centre and supplements the government’s primary healthcare program. Over the last few weeks, our team has reported regular deaths due to a ‘flu-like illness’. Families are shocked, as no-one expects their loved ones to die of a ‘fever and cough’ within a week. The government has imposed a strict lockdown and shut small private clinics in the district except for ours, due to our long-standing partnership and relationship.
The severity of the impact of the second wave across many of the northern states is massively under-reported in the news. Much of the area is rural, and backward in terms of literacy, child rights, women’s rights, education and healthcare.
With this special dispensation to open to the public, our health team have intensified its network through the inclusion of virtual health capability in surrounding remote villages to raise awareness of the virus and its deadly consequences. Integral to this initiative is the distribution of relief packages called COVID Care Kits. Kits contain masks, hand sanitiser, medication and supplements, and also a pulse oximeter and thermometer. Families are educated on the correct way to check oxygen levels, the importance of monitoring symptoms, and when and how to seek further help.
Pastor M and his “patient”, Mr L
One of our pastors, Pastor M**, fell sick with fever and a cough. Being aware of the rising second wave, he immediately contacted our clinic and was promptly connected to a testing centre where he tested positive for COVID. He was given a COVID Care Kit and told to monitor his symptoms and his oxygen saturation at home. He was advised to drink lots of fluids and to lie on his stomach as much as possible.
On day five, his symptoms worsened. He consulted one of our virtual physicians who advised him to check his oxygen saturation which was found to be in the early 90s. As a result, he was advised to start a steroid drug provided through our clinic. This reduced his symptoms almost immediately. Over the next days, he was under close observation via our virtual health program and supported by our clinic.
On day eight, Pastor M noticed that his neighbour, Mr L** was displaying similar symptoms. He went to check on him using the pulse oximeter in his COVID Care Kit and discovered Mr L’s oxygen saturation was only 88 per cent. He immediately informed our team who determined that Mr L needed hospital care. Our team acted quickly and arranged a bed with oxygen in the district hospital. However, the ambulance broke down and there were no vehicles to rent locally to drive to the town which was 35 miles away!
On the advice of the virtual health physician, Pastor M gave his neighbour his steroid tablets. Two days later, the ambulance arrived and drove Mr L to the hospital where he was evaluated but didn’t need oxygen as his saturation had improved under the two days of steroid treatment.
Mr L was sent home and a week later his symptoms had settled, his saturation was above 95. Mr L’s family are so grateful to Pastor M who, despite being sick himself, noticed and helped his sick neighbour and probably saved his life.
Many our team are also falling sick with COVID and we have had several deaths. Please pray for our community health workers as they seek to serve marginalised communities, and for comfort for bereaved families. We currently have 20 virtual clinics around the country, but plan to expand to 50 in the next month, and distribute many more COVID Care Kits.
To find out more, visit www.dfn.org.au/eofy/, email [email protected] or phone (in Australia) 1800 949 774
**Names withheld to protect privacy and identity
* Sally Bruce is a pseudonym for a member of the DFN communications team. Her real name has been withheld for security reasons.
DFN advocates and cares for India’s oppressed peoples.
