by Father Mayank Parmar for BISmumbai

The COVID-19 2nd wave continues unabated in the rural hinterlands of the Kapadvanj Block in Kheda District of Gujarat. Despite the best effort sof all stakeholders, including the Government agencies and others, the main focus thus far has been in urban and semi-urban areas only. The rural corona positive patients continue to struggle with reception of adequate treatment facilities/options. The Kapadvanj Block is yet placed second in the COVID-19 +ve case-statistics of the Kheda District, next only to District Headquarters Nadiad.

DRISTI Don Bosco Kapadvanj initiated its COVID-19 2nd wave outreach, as reported in BIS #6335 [https://bis.sdbinb.in/bis-6335-dristi-kapadwanj-covid-19-2nd-wave-outreach]. Further, DRISTI has created a 'wedding season COVID-19 task force', which ensures that appropriate safety, sanitisation measures are followed during the wedding ceremony. Equipped with sanitizers, masks, thermal guns and oximeters, the 'task force' remains on-site the entire day, assisting the wedding-revellers to sanitize their hands, wear masks, check theirpulse and temperature. Those found affected are provided tablets. This 'task force' has drawn effusive appreciation by the people in the villages. One of the teachers in Gadiyara village says, "this is the best service DRISTI is rendering to the people during this COVID-19 time."