The impact of the rising COVID positive cases— 673,166 in the country (MOHFW-18.8.20)—is felt keenly by those people on the frontline in the battle against COVID 19. These are the doctors, nurses, police, health and sanitation workers, health administrative staff and social workers, among others. Constant exposure to the infection has taken a huge toll on them, leading to infections, illness, and death.

Thousands of these personnel are infected, especially doctors, nurses, and police, but no details about an overall scenario is available. As per data from the Indian Medical Association, India lost 196 doctors so far, 170 of whom were above the age of 50 years, with general practitioners attributing around 40% of them.

In a bid to support these COVID warriors, Don Bosco Network and its partners provide free protective face masks and other equipment such as pulse oximeters, thermal scanners etc. Across India, 521,207 face masks have been distributed to help prevent infection among frontline workers as well as the public. Sanitary kits—91,310 of them— containing soaps, sanitisers, gloves etc. have also been distributed. 1554 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits have been provided to medical and social workers.

Recently, Strategic Urban Rural Advancement Backing Institute (SURABI), Don Bosco Network’s partner in Tamil Nadu, responding to escalating infections in the state, trained social workers to support the Chennai corporation in community surveillance and identification of COVID positive cases. These frontline workers are involved in door to door check-ups, setting up ward-level camps, identifying vulnerable and elderly population with symptoms, and shifting them to care centres. These frontline workers reached out to 1,65,000 individuals in 5 zones in Chennai.

Though supporting frontline workers with adequate equipment is a State responsibility; as members of civil society, we can really help and appreciate these humanitarian warriors by preventing the spread of the virus with our careful, conscious behavior.

Stay safe and stay healthy so that humanitarian workers can also stay healthy. Don Bosco Network salutes #RealLifeHeroes for their tireless service to humanity.