In response to the heightened need of shielding our communities from the pandemic, Project Samhita was launched to orient & sensitize youth and community members about the perils of COVID-19 and how to stop this virus from spreading. This training program helps participants to: [a] protect themselves and community members from the coronavirus by enhancing their knowledge on the importance of non-pharmaceutical interventions and, [b] contribute as a “COVID-19 Warrior”, based on their interest, in Public, Private and NGO sectors by having the necessary technicalities and prerequisites.
This global pandemic is a disease that is spreading rapidly and claiming lives in a record manner. With no cure in sight and epidemiologists still struggling to understand the pattern and complexity of the virus, the only known solution to stem this, so far, is by altering how we interact and mingle.
This obviously calls for new social norms like social distancing or staying at home in addition to practicing stringent hygiene like washing hands and covering your nose and mouth. But in a country like India, with a large population below the poverty line and several more uneducated, these norms are hard for people to understand and harder still to practice.
With the lock down having been lifted, community transmission is expected to peak and the problems can be compounded given that most houses include elderly parents and have limited access to healthcare.
Since there is no cure or vaccine so far; prevention is only way to check this pandemic. Therefore the need of the hour is to spread community awareness and encourage behaviour change to ensure communities are safe.
Participants on completion of their training will be equipped with the right knowledge on how to prevent themselves from being infected and are encouraged to share their knowledge in their community. This program is expected to impact 3500 to 4000 youth and community members in the first three months (under phase one).