The rise in COVID-19 cases as part of India’s ‘second wave’ has the government and public health authorities truly worried. India’s communication of the tides and ebbs of the pandemic has always been below par. The broader strategy by the Central and State governments is to take credit when there is a declining trend in cases and blame people’s laxity for an upward trend. More research needs to be conducted and communicated on whether mortality in the second wave is biased towards the group yet ineligible for vaccination, and whether reinfections are an emerging problem. It was always known, from the vaccine trial data, that the inoculations were extremely effective at addressing severe disease but less so in containing infections. This aspect needs to be amplified and communicated more clearly to encourage vaccination.
Coping strategy
We all have been affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, the impact of the pandemic and its consequences are felt differently depending on our status as individuals and as members of society. While some try to adapt to working online, homeschooling their children and ordering food online, others have no choice but to be exposed to the virus while keeping society functioning. Our different social identities and the social groups we belong to determine our inclusion within society and, by extension, our vulnerability to epidemics. Another positive feature of the response has been the expression of social solidarity and the overwhelming support from all corners.
There has been a renewed recognition by the Government of the role of civil society organizations in combating this ongoing crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the extremely fragile state of India’s health infrastructure as well as the lack of a robust social protection system. It is unfortunate that while a very small segment of the country’s population has access to the best medical care (mostly through a network of top-end private hospitals), a sizeable proportion is still left to seek care from poorly trained, unscrupulous, and unqualified private health practitioners.
Help India defeat Covid-19 by contributing to DXN-CARES by SIF
Almost every country in the world that has achieved close to universal health coverage has done so by investing in a strong public sector in health. India can’t be an exception. This is the time to make the political commitment to establish over the next five years one of the most robust public sector driven health care systems in the world. India has the capacity to do it.
DXN-CARES is aimed at strengthening the fight against Covid-19. It is an initiative by SIF to support the most vulnerable fight this crisis. Funds raised will be used to procure and ship supplies for distribution in India to government designated COVID treatment hospitals.
Our foundation will distribute PPE and safety kits and install oxygen cylinders at government health centers. We reach out with food to the stranded workers and to the most marginalized and vulnerable communities. We work with the government to ensure substantial increase in the health budget to strengthen the Indian public health system.
India is in a race against time as it is in the grip of a second deadly corona virus wave. The continued negligence of the healthcare system and the public has led to its complete collapse under the crushing weight of the pandemic. It is our collective effort that can save lives, defeat hunger, assure distressed people, and help India in its decisive fight against Covid-19.