COVID-19 – HOW WE CAN SUPPORT VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES
The current outbreak of infection: corona-virus has sparked global anxiety. This new illness can affect our lungs and airways. Its transmission can be occurred from person to person. COVID-19 symptoms range from mild to severe. It takes 2-14 days after exposure for symptoms to develop. This virus can cause mild flu, cough fever and shortness of breath.
It has struck more than 150 countries worldwide. Unfortunately now this epidemic is also spreading in Pakistan. Pakistan is such a country where normal fundamental health conditions are still unstable. People usually exhibit incautious persuasion of cleanliness and safety precautions of health. Apart from this inadequate awareness in rural areas making this much more baleful. It can clearly be seen that human lives are at high-risk especially the elderly and those with underlying health issues.
OUR TEAM IS ON GROUND
Our team organized a health visit by a renowned doctor of the city to the school. She enlightened the seriousness of this urgent issue with great avidity. She met with students explained all safety precautions to all the children and staff members along with guiding them to minimize the high-rate of menace and to make them well- aware about worsening of this ruthless disease. Suggested simple yet spot-on ways were included the following points.
- Wash your hands often with soap/ sanitizer and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing and sneezing.
- Cover your mouth and nose with tissue/ face mask. Throw used tissue in the trash. Avoid touching your nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Stay home if you are sick and maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. As treatment hasn’t been discovered so far, prevention and precautionary steps is the best way out to keep your life out of danger.
This whole session was conducted at Ummah Street Children School which is located at Saeedabad. It is one of the underdeveloped and slum area of the city. Here the poverty level is extremely high. Residents of this area don’t have the basic necessity of life such as proper housing, food etc. In such heart wrenching conditions to compete with this disease is a herculean mission and this is what made the session more optimal.
Team UCI also distributed 200 hygiene kits which included hand sanitizers, masks, Dettol liquids and soaps etc. among the students and local residents.
It was the supreme constructive and worthwhile session in true sense which was well-negotiated.
May almighty Allah protect us all in this time of hardship and we must not not forget those who are the most vulnerable communities and need our support.