India Covid Crisis - An Update
Publication date: May 2021
We are deeply concerned by the Covid situation in India as the country's healthcare system struggles to cope with the number of cases there. Many colleagues in the Humber have friends and relatives directly affected and we appreciate this will be a deeply worrying time for them. This is a short summary of actions and services which are being put in place:
A. There is a central NHSE response being coordinated by Prerana Issar with an emphasis on:
1. Advice on surge hospitals
2. Remote monitoring and management
3. Clinician to clinician telelink
4. Equipment inventory
B. The SAHF (South Asian Health Foundation), Academic Health Science Network (AHSN Network), and Learn with Nurses are running a series of webinars sharing NHS experiences of COVID-19 with health and care professionals in other countries. The next webinar is on Friday 7th May, 16:00-17:00 with the theme of Hospital and ICU Management of Covid-19 - sign up here. Details of further sessions will be posted on the South Asian Health Foundation events page.
C. These are some of the charities providing support to India
British Asian Trust Oxygen for India Emergency Appeal
APNA South Asian Heritage NHS Staff Leaders Network Covid-19 India Appeal
BAPS India Covid Emergency Appeal
D. BAPIO is also planning to provide free telemedicine support to health care staff in India. If you are interested in helping, please register stating your area of expertise and local language skills. Sign up link.
E. Please also check in with your colleagues here who have family in India. They may be distressed and have to take additional breaks to stay connected with friends and family. Also please signpost them to help available through wellbeing schemes - our support page has information and links to sources of support.