Breaking the chain of COVID-19 transmission in India

Thanks to your support, our Jesuit partners in India have established a Community Health Surveillance System to break the chain of COVID-19 transmission among migrant workers, slum and rural communities in six states, including Jharkhand state.

The program commenced in June and focuses on awareness building for infection prevention as well as providing access to critical health services, the provision of emergency healthcare kits and vaccinations.

Over the next few months, the program aims to slow the spread of COVID-19 and offer life-saving support for those people most in need by providing:

• 6,000 vulnerable people infected by COVID-19 with homecare and support services, sanitisers and face masks. • 6,000 healthcare kits with medicines to ease symptoms of COVID. • 6,000 emergency food packages for COVID positive people and those in quarantine.
• 12,000 pamphlets and brochures to educate vulnerable communities on COVID-safe behaviour.

COVID has not only brought life to a standstill in India, it has also overwhelmed its healthcare system. In addition, a lack of testing capacity gives a misinformed picture of the humanitarian emergency unfolding there.

The second wave of the pandemic has been catastrophic. Critical oxygen shortages and over 30 million COVID infections sadly means that there is little hope for the most vulnerable people.

However, thanks to your generosity, our partners can support distressed communities in a more coordinated and effective manner, slowing the spread of the virus through containment and transforming the lives of many vulnerable families in the long run.

Pamplona poem by Fr Andy Bullen SJ

The Ignatian Year celebrates the 500th anniversary of St Ignatius’ cannonball wound at the battle of Pamplona and his subsequent conversion to commit himself to God’s work. In addition, the 31 July is the feast day of St Ignatius and we invite you to reflect on Fr Andy Bullen's SJ poem Pamplona.

Click here to read Pamplona.