Promote People Power against

Context: It is time to change track from a government-led (people disconnected strategy) to a new model of PPP: People Partnered Public Health in ?ghting the virus.

Issues with the handling of the pandemic

• Diversity: 

• Geographical differences: 

• Cities with international connections are trying to expel the intruder.
• Villages and towns in other parts are involved in managing low domestic spread.

• Restricted testing: Due to differences in viral exposure rates, testing criteria restricted to specific indications resulting in variable testing rates.

• Results of population surveys conducted by the government show that out of 63 of the 83 districts measured, it reveals an antibody prevalence of 0.73%.
• Extrapolating the herd immunity threshold (HIT) from containment zones (70%) to the entire country is a mistake.

• Inadequately tapped human resource: 

• In the form of volunteer groups and elected local bodies to provide community support.
• Shortage of skilled healthcare needs to be addressed especially as there will be periodic attrition due to infection and exhaustion.

• Limited success of Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR):

• It only depends on sick persons to self-report at the hospitals.
• Stigma and fear of isolation in crowded hospitals impede self-referral.

Changing Track: From government led to People participated action

• Engage community resource: to ensure the components of response from testing and isolation to enhanced public awareness and personal protection. Need to replicate good practices.

• Panchayats becoming excellent organizers: of local community response like in Kerala
• Symptom based syndromic surveillance: through the deployment of village and ward volunteers as done in Andhra Pradesh.

• Don’t restrict testing: 

• Initial screening can be done by a school educated community volunteer without solely dependent on overburdened ASHA workers.
• Young volunteers can be equipped with a thermometer and a fingertip pulse oximeter.

• Ensuring discipline and community orientation of volunteers: Youth can be encouraged to join as they are less likely to get seriously ill.

• The National Service Scheme functioning under the Ministry of Youth Affairs can demonstrate its value through contribution.
• The National Cadet Corps involves college students mentored by the Defence Ministry.
• Local Youth groups can be trained by NGOs to provide elderly care and customized service.

• Create a Short Service Commission: under the National Health Mission to recruit doctors who have recently graduated and to attract private practitioners.
• Generate awareness: 

• Through mass media, community leaders, and local influencers like women self-help groups and resident welfare associations. 
• Encounter frights and stigma while fostering social solidarity that ensures collective safety.

• Increase micro-surveillance: to curb the spread of the virus.

• Daily provision of soap and water to the slum communities in light of low physical distancing.