Digital Didi Changing Mindsets, Practices and Narratives
It has been constantly reminded to us that Covid-19 is not yet over and stressed the fact that we have to stay vigilant. From community mobilization perspective, under Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), the volunteers are actively continuing their roles by helping to mitigate rumours, increase awareness and understanding of people on Covid-19 appropriate behaviour which include use of masks, physical distancing and hand wash. They have also been tackling the peripheral aspects of the pandemic like sensitization to being immunized, good diet, appropriate toilet use, right age for marriage and encouraging children to go back to school. These are delivered through established resources and various communication channels across 18 states and 90 districts with the help of 885 centre coordinators. So far, the number of people reached & engaged through messaging on prevention and access to services -has turned out to be 36,75,688.
One of the beneficiaries of RCCE, Sabita Kumari from Khunti village of Jharkhand, shared her response to the engagement. Her father is a farmer and she is part of a joint family. In her vicinity one of the volunteers regularly organizes different sessions enumerating measures to avoid Covid-19 with lots of innovative activities. Sabita Kumari and her family members were not fully convinced to get vaccinated but through volunteer’s constant effort, she got vaccinated and encouraged her family members to follow the same. She says, “You are contributing to mass wellness by getting vaccinated. Once you are vaccinated your body is much better prepared to shield off viruses by making your immune system stronger”.
Apart from attending to the physical well being, COVID-19 has brought about a dramatic change in everyone’s lives. The coordinators are putting a lot of efforts and making people aware regarding their mental health wellbeing during the pandemic by encouraging them to
- Focus on positive thoughts
- Maintain a routine
- Stay physically active
- Focus on healthy eating
- Get enough sleep
- Relax and recharge
- Seek help
- Relax and recharge
Related posts
