While first segments of the population are currently being vaccinated in India, the Corona case numbers have risen sharply again in just a few weeks. Schools could be completely closed again. In the Somagiri region the projects are continuing with slight restrictions and are making an important contribution.
At the beginning of the year, the Corona situation in India filled the Usthi team with optimism. The decreasing numbers gave hope for a normalisation in the projects and a broad vaccination campaign should contribute to a further improvement of the situation. In many places, the pandemic was hardly visible. The masks disappeared. But now India was also caught up in the second wave.
Only a few weeks ago, there were hopes for further opening steps for younger schoolchildren. At the beginning of April, these seem to be a long way off again. Now, in many places, even the higher classes will have to switch back to distance learning. In the state of West Bengal, where two of the Usthi schools are located, no decisions have been made yet. However, the Usthi partners believe that a national decision to close the schools may be taken soon.
In Telangana state, another closure is already a reality. Following a government decision, all schools had to switch completely back to distance education. This affects the children and young people supported by Usthi in Hyderabad, who now all have to work on their school material at home again. In March, they took their first online exams. Despite the special circumstances, the children once again did very well in the exams. Usthi is happy that the children have adapted well to the new situation and still achieved good learning results.
The second wave is also emerging in the Somagiri region around the Usthi tribal health centre. Although there are currently only a few cases, gatherings of people have already been banned again. The health centre staff is currently being vaccinated. As of this month, the public can also be vaccinated at jungle hospital. In comparison to the big cities, the people in the surrounding villages are more disciplined in dealing with Covid and adhere to the mask requirement and other measures. The health workers are able to work again without restrictions and carry out home visits in several villages. They play an important role in sensitising the population to follow hygiene measures to contain Covid-19. The high level of trust in the health network could also have a positive impact on the willingness to receive the vaccine.
The care centres of the early childhood project HEP have also reopened and are well attended. However, until the situation has stabilised, opening hours have been restricted. Several workshops for staff and children are being planned for 2021 as part of the early childhood project. Also, if the situation allows, a health camp will be held again in 2021 to sensitise the population on health issues and how to deal with Covid-19, and to offer health checks. If a large event is not possible, several smaller events on individual health topics will be held.
