COVID-19 Surveillance in Dantan, Paschim Medinipur

In various rural areas of the state, it has been noted that lack of awareness and reluctance to submit to testing, treatment, and vaccination is making the rural population even more susceptible to COVID-19. Despite showing several symptoms, people are reluctant to visit the local health centres or get tested due to widespread misinformation and a general fear of the disease and the rising death rate.  Further, the rural healthcare system is grossly underprepared for this crisis

Against the backdrop of this situation, Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity initiated a program to assist the local healthcare system in the block with awareness and sensitization campaigns on the use of masks, physical distancing, handwashing, and vaccine hesitancy. This will also allow the local health facilities to monitor and guide the patients and their families regarding the spread of the disease and the precautions and medications necessary.

We started with our first training and surveillance work in Dantan, Paschim Medinipur. We found volunteers who along with the local authorities and their staff can make home visits to identify patients with Covid symptoms and persuade them to follow protocol at home. Total 10 teams of 4 members in each team have been made. 20 volunteers (2 members from each team) were given training in 3 extensive sessions, over 2 days about the precautions they should take, understanding and using thermal scanners, oximeters etc. PPE kit disposal, cleaning, donning and doffing. There was an introductory session about covid, covid norms and safety, the importance of vaccination and other safety measures, home isolation, etc. They have been given PPE kits, thermal scanners, oximeters and basic medicines to help any patient they come across.

As of 18 June 2021, our volunteers have visited more than 200 families in various villages of the block. They have identified a few people with covid-like symptoms and have successfully guided them about the necessary precautions, provided them with basic medicines, and suggested their next action course.

We believe that addressing myths and misconceptions around the disease, promoting preventive and COVID-appropriate behaviours and campaigns to dispel myths and fears around the COVID-19 vaccines is the need of the hour, particularly in the rural parts of the state.

We plan to make COVID surveillance a continuous activity in 2021-22, until the pandemic’s abatement.

Updates, as of 23rd June 2021

A total of 11 teams have been formed, i.e 44 volunteers. 40 volunteers (10 teams) have been working on the field since  11th June, 2021. 

Each team has made 2 visits, covering approximately 70 families in each visit. Around 140 families were visited by our volunteers, in 21 villages of the Dantan 1 block of Paschim Medinipur. With an average family size of 5, 7000 individuals have been covered, of which 35 patients were found to be Covid positive and were referred to the hospital. Few people were identified with covid-like symptoms and were successfully guided about the necessary precautions and course of action.

After the 1st visit, each team is also re-visiting around 6-15 identified households, with people with covid-like symptoms.