UDHAVI Community Support During India's Second COVID-19 Wave: A Descriptive Study on a Tertiary Care Center's Pandemic Response Helpline
Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: In April 2021, during the peak of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, hospitals overflowed with COVID-19 patients, and people hesitated to seek necessary care due to fear of contracting the disease. The UDHAVI helpline was set up by a tertiary care hospital in Vellore with the help of district administration, nongovernmental organizations, and various supporting agencies to provide general information, medical advice, counseling, and logistics support to the community. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of all the phone calls made to the UDHAVI helpline between mid-May and mid-June 2021 during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The calls were electronically captured as part of the process, and the information was subsequently retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS: In all, 677 calls were received. The lines for general information, medical advice, counseling, and logistics support received 168 (25%), 377 (56%), 15 (2%), and 117 (17%) calls, respectively. Home care kits, oxygen concentrators, and food were delivered by volunteers from local nongovernmental organizations and hospitals. CONCLUSION: We believe the details of our experience would be useful in the preparedness and mobilization of resources in the event of any public health emergency. As a result of this initiative, we propose an integrated partnership model for emergency response to any pandemic situation.
Authors: Balu Krishna Sasidharan, Ranjit Immanuel James, Sowmya Sathyendra, R. Harsh, Jenifer Jeba Sundararaj, Vinitha Ravindran, Hannah Mary Thomas T, Narmada Ashok, Madan Mohan Thirunavukkarasu, John Victor Punitha, Tarun K. George, Barney Thomas Jesudason Isaac, Arun John Zechariah, Samuel N. J. David, Dass Prakash Yesupatham, Aparna Irodi, Vijay Aruldas, Shyamkumar Nidugala Keshava, Anand Zachariah, Gagandeep Kang, Joy John Mammen
Institution: Christian Medical College, Vellore
Language: English
Subfield: Emergency Medical Services
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4387772607