While the efforts taken by the government to prevent and control community outbreak of COVID 19 are commendable, the impact of this crisis on the underprivileged families and their children is a huge concern. ChildFund India, through its response efforts, will support nearly 2,50,000 people across the country, over the next 3 months and scale up in the next few months towards rehabilitation.

In the last couple of weeks, it has already distributed basic hygiene and sanitation items to more than 16,000 people, arts and crafts material to nearly 5,000 children for their home-based learning and play activities and spread awareness amongst thousands of people on prevention and management of COVID-19 through dissemination of Information, Education and Communication materials.

ChildFund is initiating distribution of food baskets and hygiene kits to most vulnerable families to ensure food security and family safety. It has ensured safety of Frontline Workers and they are working closely with the local district administration.

As per its rehabilitation strategy, it is working on different possibilities of recovery and rehabilitation interventions, especially, psycho-social support to children and education continuity at the home settings by providing them with story books, arts and sports items. It will support in restoring livelihoods of vulnerable families and initiate WASH (Water and Sanitation, Hygiene) interventions to increase hygiene practices for sustainable results.

ChildFund has launched its response to fight the COVID 19 crisis on national level, which is being approached in 2 phases. The 1st phase focuses on providing Relief support and the 2nd Phase emphasises on rehabilitation of the affected families.

As part of its initial response, ChildFund is collaborating with community leaders and local authorities to ensure only correct and adequate information regarding COVID-19 is reaching the communities to reduce panic, supporting Government by tracking people with relevant travel history in their locations & advising returnees to self-quarantine. If any child is suspected to be infected with COVID-19, required support is being provided to the family. Field staff are providing remote educational support to children and youth through online apps and telecommunication amid this crisis and connecting families with government schemes related to this emergency.

“India and rest of the world is in a grave situation. A large part of the population we serve is the migrant population in both urban and rural settings, which is the most affected section of the society in today’s scenario. We’re working hard to provide support to these vulnerable families, their children and the communities at large who are in desperate need of the lifesaving support. As you know the need is large and resources limited, we need support to reach as many families as possible with our response. Every preventive action helps and every one of us can make a difference to stop the spread of this virus. In such conditions, children are affected the most. ChildFund is proud to be a part of the Joining Forces For Children – India alliance, which is committed to extend its support to the Government of India in this time of national crisis and to serve the best interests of children. Through the appeal, submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office and other government offices, we are trying to ensure that the well-being of the most vulnerable children is not compromised. The only solution is to stand in solidarity, collaborate and fight this back,” said Neelam Makhijani, Country Director and CEO of ChildFund India.