Maintaining Safe Habits is the Key to Safety from COVID-19 : Prasanta Dash, Chief Field Office, UNICEF Jharkhand

Ranchi, Jharkhand | June | 02, 2020 :: The COVID-19 pandemic has kept us in a state of lockdown for over two months. This has had a huge impact on every aspect of our lives, from confinement indoors to closed schools, offices and marketplaces. This time has been challenging for all of us, both physically and psychologically. In a society that thrives on shared experiences, festivities and togetherness such as ours, the lockdown has not been easy to observe. Children have especially had difficulties in coping with the sense of insecurity, staying away from friends and in many cases, being vulnerable to violence, hunger and sickness.

This pandemic of global dimensions has left its impact on our daily habits as well. Social distancing is now a buzzword around the world, as is the importance of regular handwashing with soap and the practice of respiratory hygiene. As someone whose work focuses on the improvement of health and hygiene in the community, I appreciate the widespread adoption of better handwashing and hygiene habits. WHO guidelines clearly state the role played by handwashing with soap, cleaning hands with sanitizer, maintaining social distancing and wearing masks in protecting us from contracting the disease. While infections continue to be reported every day, it is a fact that these healthy practices have prevented an even faster spread of COVID-19.
As time passes, we see that lockdowns are eased to allow a number of activities, with precautions, such as office openings with low attendance, travel via road, rail and air as well as the opening up of some marketplaces. In this context, it is important to remember that while restrictions have reduced, the importance of protecting ourselves from COVID-19 remains the same. These changes must not make us believe that the old ‘normal’ is back. COVID-19 is still a threat and until a cure or vaccine is developed, it is important to flatten the curve so that our health personnel are not overwhelmed as they work round the clock to heal the infected.
Therefore, I must stress again that we must continue with the precautions that we have observed from the beginning. We must avoid public places unless absolutely necessary. We must continue with limited movement for groceries, and buy for a week, a fortnight or more. Visits to the markets must be planned in a manner where crowding can be avoided by maintaining a distance of 6 feet with others. We must continue to wear face masks and if we rejoin our offices, we must ensure that appropriate distances are maintained and government guidelines are followed. Practices like spitting in public must be discouraged. Active involvement by the general public will further help authorities in containing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Another important thing I want to address is social stigma. A crisis such as this pandemic breeds fear, anxiety and negativity. Often these feelings manifest in the form of discrimination and disrespect against people of certain communities or geographies, migrant workers and even against health workers and volunteers who are society’s true heroes at this time. We must remember that COVID-19 does not differentiate between who it infects. Discrimination and violence are unacceptable on grounds of identity, and especially against the same health workers who are the ones risking their lives to keep us safe.
It is critical that we are supportive and protective of the people who are infected and of the migrants who have journeyed long in this harsh summer to find the safety of home. Even more so, let us respect and support the doctors, nurses, ANMs, ASHAs, sanitation workers as well as social volunteers who are treating, feeding and helping people at great risk to themselves. When we protect ourselves, we make their jobs easier. These past weeks have taught us to live a completely different life with a new set of challenges. Let us stay safe so that we can all emerge secure on the other side.

“Chuppi Toro, Swasth Raho” is Jharkhand’s call for Menstrual Hygiene Awareness

Ranchi, Jharkhand | May | 28, 2020 :: The Government of Jharkhand announced a month-long digital awareness campaign on Thursday to break the silence around menstrual hygiene to promote better health for girls and women. The “Chuppi Toro, Swasth Raho” (Break the Silence, Stay Healthy) campaign will use digital media to ensure public awareness while adhering to COVID-19 social distancing norms.

28 May is marked as Menstrual Hygiene Day globally to bring together non-profits, government agencies, individuals, the private sector and the media to promote good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) for all women and girls. It aims to break the silence, build awareness and combat taboos and negative social norms around MHM by engaging decision makers, influencers and the community at large to
Initiated by the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department (DWSD) with the support of UNICEF, the campaign will use TV, online conferencing, the media and digital platforms such as WhatsApp to ensure the campaign reaches a wide audience between 28 May and 27 June, 2020.
Mithilesh Thakur, Jharkhand’s Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation, said that the disruption caused by the pandemic should not prevent access to and usage of menstrual hygiene products.
“The objective of the campaign is to encourage women and girls to speak up about menstruation, discuss the risks of improper menstrual hygiene and the safe disposal of used sanitary product. While COVID-19 has affected our ability to organize meetings and campaigns, we can use digital media and mass media to ensure that the message for improved Menstrual Hygiene can reach the widest possible audience. The “Chuppi Toro, Swasth Raho” campaign will ensure that women and girls across Jharkhand speak up about menstrual hygiene and encourage healthier, safer practices. The DWSD is planning to provide free of cost sanitary napkins to school going girls and women in villages. When implemented, it would be great success in ensuring better menstrual hygiene among girls and women in the state.”
The month-long initiative will also be supported by the departments of Health, Education, Panchayati Raj, Women and Child Development as well as Rural Development. Prashant Kumar, Secretary, DWSD, said that a convergent, multi-pronged approach would be deployed to make the initiative a success.
“We all have to work together for the success of this campaign. Our plan is to work in phases to ensure better MH management across the state. Firstly, we will build awareness of through virtual trainings, from the districts down to the panchayats. Secondly, we will ensure the dissemination of information to the field workers and community using digital platforms. Thirdly, we will pursue innovations and sustainable mechanisms for the production, distribution and use of sanitary napkins at the grassroot level.”
Prasanta Dash, Chief, UNICEF Jharkhand, stressed on the very positive role played by online mediums in building awareness in an extended period of school and closures and social distancing.
“The inability to hold large trainings and classroom sessions has been a big blow dealt by the pandemic. However, thousands of health personnel and volunteers have been trained online on combating the pandemic. Digital classrooms and televised learning content have helped students and their families cope with school closures. I also believe that a coordinated effort by key departments will ensure greater success for the campaign. I urge departments across sectors, especially Health, Education Rural Development and DWSD to come together for the cause of better menstrual hygiene management.”
According to the National Family Health Survey (2015-16), four out of 10 females in Jharkhand aged between 15-49 years use a hygienic menstrual absorbent during their periods. Access to and use of better menstrual hygiene products and practices has a significant positive impact on health, educational status and the empowerment of women and girls.  

Seekh programme of UNICEF ensures the continued learning of students, despite the school closure : Job Zachariah, Chief of UNICEF, Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh | May | 26, 2020 :: Job Zachariah, Chief of UNICEF in Chhattisgarh, in an interaction with our news editor, spoke about the innovative “Seekh” programme, designed and launched by UNICEF for ensuring learning of primary school children at home in a fun-filled way.
He says that disruption of learning due to school closure could affect the learning outcome of children and it could even lead to the drop-out of students, when school reopens. “Seekh programme of UNICEF ensures the continued learning of students, despite the school closure” he says.


Excerpts

1.Q: Why did UNICEF design and launch “Seekh” programme for students?
A: Most schools in the country were closed from 16 March 2020, due to COVID 19 and the lockdown.
This disrupted the learning of students. Global evidence shows that it is not easy to re-start learning of children, once it is dis-continued. Besides, learning outcome of students would dip, after school closure. UNICEF felt that the learning of children could continue at home in a joyful way, with the involvement of parents. Hence, we launched the “Seekh” programme.


2. Q: What does Seekh programme consist of?
A: Seekh consists of a set of class-specific and subject-specific activities prepared in short audios and videos, based on expected learning outcomes.
These audios and videos are in the subjects like Hindi language, maths and science.
The class-specific activities include fun-filled indoor games and riddles, telling stories, reading out a passage, writing simple paragraphs, counting, as well as some physical activity. So far, 60 videos and audios of activities have been prepared and posted.
After each audio and video lesson, students have to do certain follow-up activities, as suggested.


3. Q: What are the unique features of Seekh?

A: Seekh is different from the usual on-line portals on education in the country for distance learning of students. Seekh programme, has three distinct features.
First, learning of students is ensured through fun-filled games and interesting activities.
Children learn basic concepts, without even realizing that they are learning. Second, Seekh promotes learning of students along with parents and grandparents.
All the activities are to be done by students along with parents and grandparents.
Third, local schoolteacher and community volunteer provide support to children and parents on the lessons and activities, by phone or social media platforms.


4. Q: How does Seekh lessons reach parents and children
A: The videos and audios of Seekh programme, with class-specific activities, are placed in the YouTube page- ‘CG Seekh’.
These are then shared by teachers with the parents by digital platforms such as WhatsApp groups, anchored by the teacher at the school or community level.
Alternatively, parents and students can directly access the videos and audios of lessons in the YouTube page.

5. Most of the parents are illiterate or first-generation learners in rural India. Will they be able to support children?
A: Even if parents are not educated in the formal way, we believe that parents can support and facilitate learning of children at home.
We want to promote non-formal ways of learning at home and Seekh programme considers parents and grandparents as great resources that can contribute to children’s development.
We have very positive response from parents in all districts. Parental and community support for learning of children, is an idea whose time has come.
In Nigerian Igbo culture, there is a saying which goes like this: ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ Ditto for education.


6. Q: How will the Seekh videos and audios reach poor households in rural areas, who do not have smart phones or internet connectivity?
A: In states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, poor households may not have internet connectivity or smart phones to access the digital content.
To overcome this digital divide, Seekh mobilizes community volunteers, often young persons, who spend 1-2 hours with the children in their neighborhood, supporting them to learn. In some places, children who do not have access to digital devices are invited by their friends to learn together, keeping all precautions like wearing masks, physical distancing and washing hands with soap.


7. Q: Tell us more about the concept of Seekh mitras or community volunteers
A: Seekh mitras are community volunteers who would support parents and children for learning at home.
More than 4,000 Seekh mitras have been identified in Dhamtari and Raigarh districts in Chhattisgarh.
These Seekh mitras will be trained by UNICEF and provided with ‘pitaara’ containing learning activities and reference material.
Through the Seekh mitras, UNICEF hope to reach the last mile, those children in the poor and vulnerable households.


8.Q: Is this programme meant only for students in Chhattisgarh?
A: The learning material of Seekh is useful for all primary school students in India.
In the first phase, UNICEF has launched the programme in four districts of Chhattisgarh - Sukma, Dhamtari, Raigarh and Jashpur- with the support of district administration.