Introduction
The CBCI-CARD as an organization experienced a different and a challenging scenario during the period from March to December 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a massive disastrous situation all over the country. Though the entire country was locked-down for a certain period of time, due to COVID-19 pandemic, the CBCI-CARD’s team engaged in providing support to the TB patients, migrant population and communities in the hard to reach areas. The pandemic situation gave an opportunity to the team to provide support to the under privileged communities. The team remained active and came forward in reaching to the needy underprivileged communities by way of mobilizing resources and supporting them. For those TB patients who had no access to the DOTS centre, the CBCI-CARD team delivered the medicines at their door steps. In other words, the CBCI-CARD team never stopped its services, during the pandemic situation, but was able to help the TB Patients and the underprivileged communities.
The CBCI-CARD team resumed the Project Axshya field activities in the month of June 2020 as per the instruction by the Organization and guidelines given by The Union during the pandemic.
Treatment Initiation and Continuity of DOTS for TB patients during Lock down:
During lockdown many TB patients were very worried about their treatment initiation and continuity of DOTS as it was little challenging to get DOTS during the lock-down and moreover the NTEP team were involved in the COVID-19 duty as well. The CBCI-CARD’s Axshya team were closely monitoring the already existing TB patients and newly identified TB patients and also identified their immediate need. The team connected with NTEP team and provided DOTS with the help of STS and DOTS provider (NTEP staff) to the TB patients at their door steps. The CBCI-CARD’s team initiated treatment of the newly identified TB patients with the support from the NTEP team. During COVID-19 emergency almost 86 TB patients were initiated on treatment and 143 TB patients were able to get DOTs continuously. DOTS was delivered at the door steps of the TB patients as they found access of the DOTS centre challenging during the COVID-19 lock-down.
Nutritional support to poor TB patients and under privileged communities:
The TB patients have to intake healthy diet while on DOTS. Many TB patients identified are from poor background, unable to take two meals and proper diet due to their poor financial status. Hence the CBCI-CARD team reached the TB patients in the hard to reach areas during COVID-19 lockdown. The CBCI-CARD team, with support from the NTEP team, local NGOs and volunteers reached the TB patients in the hard to reached areas and distributed dry ration to 136 TB patients.
TB patients follow up and tele-counseling through call:
During this critical situation, the CBCI-CARD’s team were in constant touch with the TB patients to ensure mental stability, treatment adherence and treatment initiation especially in the hard to reach areas as mobility remained to be an important challenge. With support from the Community volunteers and NGO partners, the CBCI-CARD team were able to provide psycho-social support through continuous counseling to the TB patients in the hard to reach areas. This follow up ensured the TB patients to continuously intake DOTs and remain mentally fit. 600 TB patients were followed up and given counseling through phone calls.
Brief report on Virtual DC Review Meeting during COVID-19 Pandemic:
The CBCI CARD team organised the Project Axshya Virtual District Co-ordinator Review Meeting from September 8-10, 2020. The main objective of the meeting was to review the District Co-ordinators performances of the last six months from January to June 2020, experience sharing and input and suggestions to conduct Project Axshya activities during COVID-19 pandemic. CBCI-CARD team had the pleasure of having the presence of Most. Rev. Archbishop Prakash Mallavarapu, Archbishop of Vishakapatnam Archdiocese and President of CBCI- CARD, Mr Subrat Mohanty, Project Director, Project Axshya, The Union South-East Asia Office, Dr. Santosh Gupta, State TB Officer, Uttar Pradesh, Fr Julius Arakkal , Joint Director of Amala institute of Medical Sciences and Secretary of CBCI- CARD in the DC Review Meeting. The CBCI-CARD team were highly motivated and encouraged with the motivational message by the speakers.
- Virtual CV Review Meeting:
The Community Volunteers (CVs) of CBCI-CARD have reached to many people during this pandemic situation. This crisis scenario had given an opportunity to the CBCI-CARD team to organise virtual CV review meetings in the 28 districts of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. Sr Nirmala Mulackal, the Executive Director and other management staff of CBCI-CARD participated in all the CV review meetings to interact with the Community Volunteers, NGOs and the NTEP team. Sr Nirmala, connected and interacted with the grass root level volunteers, thanked them for their valuable contribution in the TB elimination program of Project Axshya.
- Virtual DH ICV Review Meeting October 29-30
The CBCI-CARD team conducted Virtual Review Meetings for the District Hospital- Independent Community Volunteers (DH ICVs) in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh from October 29-30, 2020. The management team interacted with the DH ICVs, reviewed their performances, motivated and provided insights on how to carry on the activities during this COVID-19, by following all precautionary measures. Best performers, having identified the highest number of TB patients were highly appreciated, motivated and were given an opportunity to share their experiences to count as a cross-learning. The DH ICVs were overwhelmed with this initiative of direct interaction by the Management team.
Webinar on Self-Care from August 17-22, 2020:
The CBCI CARD team organized a Webinar for all the full-time employees on Self-Care from August 17-22, 2020. The topics covered in the Webinar were Lifestyle Behaviour and Self-Care Assessment, Organizational Climate Building, Professional/ Quality/ Communication, Coping with Positive/ Negative and Oppressive Struggles & Attitudes, and Inner Healing. Mr. Abhilesh, External Facilitator from Canada facilitated one of the sessions and other sessions were facilitated by CBCI-CARD internal team.
Update about CBCI-CARD’s COVID-19 Warriors
Three District Co-ordinators of the CBCI-CARD team contracted COVID-19 during the period from June – December 2020 and faced a lot of challenges in the community. One of the District Co-ordinators was completely discriminated in the community, but the CBCI-CARD team helped him to come over it. On the other side, two other District Co-ordinators received good support from the government set up and the communities in terms of diagnosis, treatment and recovery. But all three of the team members fought the battle with COVID-19 and are able to perform their regular activities at the field. Continuous and relentless support helped them to face and overcome the crisis situation.
