South Raypur, June 12, 2020: As Coronavirus disease has gripped the world as a pandemic, a young girl in India’s West Bengal is lending a helping hand to the people of her village in the eastern Indian state.
Ashima Kayal has gathered seven other girls and three boys of her South Raypur village of Pathar Pratima Block in the South 24 Parganas district to educate their people about the virus and ways to keep the Covid-19 disease at bay.
The current Covid-19 situation really challenges health workers and others “as the disease continues to spread in India as well as in my community areas,” Ashima says.
West Bengal recorded 10,244 coronavirus positive cases and stood seventh among Indian states. It also reported 451 deaths from Covid-10 as on June 12.
The villagers hail Ashima as an exceptional, unstoppable, and dedicated youngster who would turn no stone unturned to help people.
Before the pandemic attack, the member of a poor family has been working as a socioeconomic response instructor and part of the water, sanitation and hygiene program of the district.
As soon as the news of the spread of the coronavirus disease, Ashima and her team started discussing what they could do to help the villagers.
They decided to prepare sanitizers, pamphlets about proper hygiene, the use of facial masks, and social distancing.
They all contributed money and started production of 100 ml bottles of sanitizers in their homes to distribute for free to the poor and needy.
They set out to the villages of Pathar Pratima Block to warn the people about the disease. They also demonstrated to family members on the proper way to wash hands.
To carry out their work, Ashima and her team take great risks, but their dedication has saved hundreds of lives so far, acknowledge the senior workers of the Indian Red Cross Society she has been associated for years.
“I take inspiration from my father and the district headquarters in our collective fight against Covid-19,” Ashima says.
She said her team team distributed hand sanitizers, masks, soaps and demonstrated handwash techniques apart from distributing dissemination material on necessary precautionary measures.
“We are carrying out awareness campaigns on social distancing in the market areas, banks, at the cooking gas distribution points and ration shops to sensitize as many people as we can. To date, we have reached out to more than 4,300 people. It is the most difficult time for all healthcare workers and frontline volunteers around the world,” she added.
Source: Radio Veritas Asia