COVID-19 Emergency Response for Rural India

This project aims to reduce coronavirus (COVID-19) related mortality and morbidity in marginalized rural communities focusing on women widows and girls in the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states in India. The project helps respond to the threat of COVID-19 by supporting and strengthening the capacity of the local health system delivering essential health services and providing an awareness program. Project activities include: (1) creating a safer environment in rural schools through protective monitoring and hygiene measures; (2) providing community level monitoring kits; (3) delivering various COVID-19 awareness messages; and (4) offering virtual counselling sessions for people affected by COVID-19 and post-COVID complications. This project expects to cover 1 000 rural communities spread across the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. It expects to reach 300 000 direct beneficiaries by improving access to COVID-19 precautions and awareness. It should also reach 1.25 million indirect beneficiaries. This project works in partnership with Bala Vikasa.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased equitable coverage of health care services for people infected with COVID-19; (2) improved rural communities’ response to and recovery from COVID-19 that include specific measures for women girls and those experiencing marginalization or vulnerability; (3) strengthened COVID-19 preparedness and equitable response by governments and key stakeholders especially for those experiencing marginalization and/or vulnerability.