by Cleric Sanket Chauhan for BISMumbai

MumbaiSalesians' managed Don Bosco Chhotaudepur’s social development wing Lok Seva Kendra [LSK] organised a COVID-19 awareness 'dhamaka', from 9 am to 5 pm daily between 05-20 June 2021, to arrest the fatal 3rd wave in 144 villages of the Chhotaudepur Taluka, one of the six talukas of the Chhhotaudepur District.

In collaboration with the District Health Department, LSK organised a 'Corona Tableau', roping in 02 popular adivasi artistes - Parul Rathwa and Parvath Thakor - to perform. Doctors, Talatis and Sarpanches ensured that people came forward to attend the awareness programme, at the respective Panchayat Offices. District Health Officer-Dr. Neha Butt was instrumental in the planning, organisation and execution of the awareness 'dhamaka', delivering the message that 'vaccination' is a must and inviting people to be vaccinated at the medical booths prepared by the LSK SHGs and community Asha health caregivers. The participants were provided masks and immunity kits.

LSK also initiated the mobile 'Corona Jagruti Abhiyan' from 10 June to end on 10 July, to quickly reach out to the villagers, with tests to arrest COVID-19 symptoms, with a basic COVID-19 medical health check-up for all the villagers. The Health Department provided the services of 02 nurses who checked the temperature, blood pressure, monitored the pulse-rate and cheked the oxygen-levels of the villagers. The Rajpipla Jesuits' Social Service Society donated 05 sets of automatic testing equipment to cover all the 144 villages of Chhotaudepur Taluka, which will will also involve the training of Asha caregivers and enable further village outreach.

This is part of LSK's strategy to wage maximum war against COVID-19, and be ready for the predicted fatal 3rd wave.