The total number of reported cases of Covid-19 in India has crossed 1.5 million. I am certain that the actual number is much higher because of a variety of reasons such as highly inadequate testing, reluctance on the part of patients to get tested and isolated, poor data collection and coordination, and so on. I would say that the reported number could easily be multiplied by 5 times or even more. The urban poor continue to be the hardest hit, and are suffering the most for the devastating economic toll of lockdowns and job losses.
Social distancing in the slums is impossible, and there is little running water and sanitation, putting them at much greater risk for contracting the virus. Rickshaw pullers, construction workers, daily wage workers in factories, and domestic workers are all out of work. They are employed on verbal contracts and have no social security.
Their employers have access to the best of health care, can watch Netflix in air conditioned apartments or gated houses, while their neighbors in the slums suffer without money and without food.
Let us continue to raise resources to help them during this terrible crisis. We are sending food parcels everyday to our Asha slums all over the city. We have expanded our health care programs, and are running special clinics for the most vulnerable: the elderly, malnourished women, children under five, pregnant women, patients with diabetes and hypertension and other co-morbid conditions.
We are in desperate need for resources to buy groceries and medicines. Thank you all for your hearts of compassion and for standing with us during these most difficult of times.
Here are some pictures from this week.
The bags are procured by Asha and are being given out by the members of Asha’s Women’s Groups who are now volunteering in large numbers, along with our younger Asha Corona Warriors.”
DONATE FOR ASHA’S COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE: https://bit.ly/2tFvdy3
