Pandemic Preparedness & Management:

The 2nd wave gave rise to several apprehensions regarding COVID safety, testing and vaccinations that had to be addressed. The team conducted the following activities to keep the communities informed:

• Sensitising the communities about COVID-19 safety precautions by busting myths associated with infections, tests and vaccinations
• Raising awareness on the available vital medicines and oxygen supply
• Organising awareness drives on managing COVID-19 illness at home and preventing its spread
• Providing psychosocial support to children to help them cope with the distress caused by the closure of schools for over a year and lack of outdoor activities

Safety & Protection:

There was a significant number of cases of child labor, child marriage and trafficking in all project areas in the first wave of COVID. During the 2nd wave, this number started rising. To ensure children stayed protected, the team focussed on:

• Identifying and handling cases of children forced into child labor and child marriage due to financial pressures in the family
• Strengthening child protection mechanisms at the village as well as district levels
• Community awareness on the negative effects of child labor and child marriage

Health & Nutrition:

Given the loss of livelihoods and even bread earners in certain families, the closure of primary healthcare centres and the school midday meals, children’s health was severely affected. They were unable to get proper nutrition, timely immunisation or proper healthcare and thus, the team focused on:

• Ensuring regular vaccinations to avoid susceptibility to other deadly diseases
• Providing timely care to lactating and pregnant mothers
• Addressing malnutrition to reduce infant/child mortality
• Ensuring awareness around menstrual hygiene

Education:

The closure of schools for over a year and the severe lack of digital access led to a gap in children’s education. In order to ensure this situation doesn’t become permanent, we focused on:

• Providing worksheets, guides and digital support to help children continue studying
• Conducting community based study sessions for children in small groups using online mediums like WhatsApp

Ensuring urgent care for children without parental supervision:

One of the most concerning ramifications of the 2nd wave was the heart-breaking stories of some children losing one or in some cases both parents to COVID. Several children were without parental supervision and care as their parents were in the hospital or under medical care. CRY ensured the care and protection of such vulnerable children.

We’ve already begun planning to address the long term repercussions on children in the aftermath of the Coronavirus outbreak, but we need YOUR help to put our plans into action.

Children are the unseen victims of this crisis and their struggles are the invisible costs this disastrous second wave will claim. Let’s come together to fight against the lasting impact of the Coronavirus outbreak on India’s underprivileged children and help contribute to the larger solution that could give them a brighter future. Donate now!

Save the Children: is working in 200 least served communities across 10 states in the USA to alleviate hunger, mitigate children’s learning loss as schools remain closed and address children’s social-emotional well-being. To combat wide-scale learning loss, they are providing children and families with age-appropriate books, educational resources and play-based learning materials. Integrating social-emotional support will help kids overcome the effects of anxiety this crisis may have. Building stocks of critical supplies like school supplies, nutritious food and hygiene kits and distributing them through schools, feeding centers and other community locations. For more information, click here