India is at a very crucial stage in its fight against thetransmission of coronavirus at community level. In this backdrop, the NationalHealth Mission (NHM) has advised health workers, who are part of the primaryhealth care (PHC) team, to ensure safety for themselves and their families,while performing duties at the forefront.
According to the WHO, primary healthcare is focused atproviding care in the community as well as care through the community, the PHCaddresses not only individual and family health needs, but also the broaderissue of public health and the needs of defined populations.
The guidelines for the PHC team members focus on — how doesCOVID-19 spread, group of people at high risk, key messages on prevention ofCOVID-19, the PHC team members role in early detection and referral,instructions on home quarantine. And most importantly, taking care of them andcarrying on with their duties as a frontline worker.
According to the NHM document, frontline workers role in thefight against the spread of coronavirus is two-fold: Spread key messages in thecommunity about measures to prevent the infection; and take actions for earlydetection and referral of suspected COVID-19 cases.
“Avoid gatherings such as melas, haats, gatherings inreligious places, social functions, etc. Maintain a safe distance of at leastone metre between you and other people when in public places, especially ifthey are having symptoms such as cough, fever etc. to avoid direct dropletcontact. Stay at home as much as possible”, said the NHM in the document.
The NHM emphasised community workers should prepare a linelist of all people who have travelled to other countries or other states insideIndia in last 14 days.
“Take all preventive measures that you are talkingabout in the community such as keeping safe distance, washing hands frequently,including before and after home visits. Carry your own soap if necessary. Ifyou are visiting or accompanying a suspected case to any health facility, makesure to cover both your mouth and nose with folded cloth or mask”, saidthe document on steps to prevent the infection.
The health ministry also sensitised the health workers todifferentiate between myth and facts on the spread of the infection, as itwould contain rumours on the spread of the infection. The coronavirus cannot betransmitted through mosquito bites. Even people with the COVID-19 infectionhaving no symptoms can spread the disease”, said the document.