Apr 15, 2020 / Covid-19

Role of NGOs in the COVID-19 Crisis

By the time the COVID-19 crisis blows over, the world as we knew it will cease to exist. NGOs can play a big role in easing us into the new world.

The first case of the novel coronavirus was reported on December 31, 2019, in Wuhan City, China. As of April 6, 2020, it has spread to more than 200 countries and killed more than 70,000 people.

The social and economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic continues as governments around the world grapple with the crisis. When the first COVID-19 case was reported in India in January, WHO and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a list of basic protective measures against the disease. Wash hands frequently. Refrain from touching your face. Maintain distance from people exhibiting cough and cold-like symptoms.

The guidelines were simple to follow but with increasing cases of infected people in India, the preventive measures needed to be amplified many times over to contain the spread of the disease and fend off mass hysteria.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown in India on March 25, to slow down the spread of the virus. The hasty decision has adversely affected many sections of the society especially the poor. Daily wage laborers lost their incomes and had no way to feed themselves. Many NGOs stepped up and provided relief to the poor by feeding them and distributing hygiene kits.

Relief effort by NGOs

The Akshaya Patra Foundation (TAPF) has served over 4.9 million meals to people from vulnerable communities. “As a part of the relief initiative, the foundation has been distributing freshly cooked meals and food relief kits to migrant laborers, industrial workers, and homeless people in various locations across the country,” says Chanchalapathi Dasa, Vice Chairman, TAPF, in an email.

There is still much more to do as the domino effect from the novel Coronavirus continues. The pandemic has triggered mental health issues. The healthcare industry is reeling from the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE). Despite the PM’s repeated appeals, mass gatherings continue. In this situation, NGO’s can play a big role in reining in the pandemic.

“NGOs have deep penetration in society. They have access to areas where healthcare organizations are absent,” says Dr. Subhrojyoti Bhowmick, Clinical Director, Peerless Hospital.

“They are known and trusted by the communities where they work, and they can spread the awareness,” he adds.

Anshu Gupta, Founder Director, Goonj agree. “A grassroots institution can successfully motivate people because there is a connect, a relationship,” he says.

Goonj has been making and distributing cloth masks to relief workers and in family kits. “Since we have stopped taking materials, we are making do with the material we have at the moment,” he says. Bulk production is not possible at the moment, adds Gupta.

Mental health concerns

A recent survey by The Indian Psychiatry Society (IPS) found a steep rise in the number of patients suffering from mental illness after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in India. Dr. Manu Tiwari, Head of Department, Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, Fortis Hospital (Noida) told India Today that the lockdown has had a massive impact on the lifestyle of people. “They are staying indoors with limited resources. They are now suffering from anxiety, panic attacks, and even alcohol withdrawal syndrome,” he was quoted.

He further added that unprecedented conditions and more vulnerable groups of patients are a big threat to the spread of this illness, especially with the patients not even realizing he has a disease. “Mostly are those who worry a lot and are addicted to any substance or alcohol.”

NGO’s can help by disseminating information about mental health care, says clinical psychologist Natasha Ryntathiang.

“They can have an important role as mental health care is not always accessed by all especially the smaller cities or the uninformed,” she says.

“Several organizations in our country have set up helplines. The government has also acknowledged this. So NGOs can bridge the gap between the service providers and professionals and the people who need help,” she adds.

The curve

According to scientists from Shiv Nadar University, Uttar Pradesh, the current 21-day lockdown may help reduce the projected number of symptomatic novel coronavirus cases in India by nearly 83 percent till day 20 from the beginning of the intervention, thereby flattening the COVID-19 curve.

A modeling study by researchers from the university considered the optimistic scenario, where cases are isolated immediately within one or two days since showing symptoms.

“We also assumed 80 percent to 90 percent of the population resorted to social distancing,”; Samit Bhattacharya, Associate Professor at Shiv Nadar University told PTI.

“Our prediction shows that India could have embraced about 5,000 and 30,790 symptomatic cases in the next 10 days and 20 days, respectively," said Naga Suresh Veerapu, Assistant Professor at Shiv Nadar University.

At the beginning of the lockdown, India was in the second phase of the COVID-19 outbreak – the disease spreading to close contacts, and there was no evidence for community transmission, PTI reports. The scientists told the agency that the country appeared to have slid into the third phase of the outbreak.

Gupta says besides enforcing the curfew, it is essential to build up a positive network of information to negate the fear that has taken hold in the country.

Ground challenges

Goonj had to scale back its operations. They have stopped accepting materials at their collection centers and also terminated their field activities. They were amidst the relief work for the Delhi riots victims when the Coronavirus pandemic hit India. Gupta says the relief work for the victims of the riots now includes relief from Corona as well.

The logistics have been a challenge but fortunately for Goonj, the networks they built in cities, villages, with community workers and local institutions across the country for the past 15 years have helped. “For the first time we have been transferring money to organizations to buy locally,” says Gupta.

The staff of The Akshay Patra Foundation is working 12 hours a day at times for the preparation and distribution of meals, says Dasa. “With the increase in the number of meals being cooked and distributed, there is an increase in our manpower requirements,” says Dasa.

“We are getting help from volunteering groups and corporates to meet this manpower requirement.”

CSR Funds for COVID-19

On March 23, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs announced that funds spent on measures to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak will be counted towards the corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity of companies.

According to the Companies Act, firms with a net worth of Rs. 500 crore, or turnover of Rs 1,000 crore or net profit of Rs. five crores or more, are required to set aside 2 percent of their average net profits over the last three years on corporate social responsibility activities.

The notification issued by the ministry says funds spent on the promotion of healthcare, including preventive healthcare and sanitation and disaster management would be within the definition of a company’s CSR obligations.

This decision can give a big boost to the NGOs in the front line of the pandemic. The most effective work so far has been by the voluntary social development sector, says Gupta. “Unfortunately, many of them don’t have resources now. If the curve rises, then they must be given resources to dissemination information,” he adds.

An acute shortage of personal protective equipment is leaving doctors, nurses and other frontline workers dangerously ill-equipped to care for COVID-19 patients. Healthcare workers rely on personal protective equipment like gloves, medical masks, respirators, goggles, face shields, gowns, and aprons to protect themselves and their patients from being infected and infecting others.

In Wuhan, China, the global epicenter of the outbreak, international NGOs have delivered face masks, protective suits, N95 respirator masks and protective gear for health workers.
The CSR funds can be used by the NGOs to source or manufacture protective equipment because we cannot beat COVID-19 without the healthcare providers.