Returning to Field Work Post-lockdown in Central UP

After 12 weeks of only being able to support children and families through phone calls due to the Covid-19 lockdown, community-based rehabilitation (CBR) workers and special educators at Jayati Bharatam in Lucknow were finally able to resume their screening activities in villages across Ailiya, Sarojini Nagar, Gosaiganj and Maholi blocks under Project IDI.

As they learn to adjust to the “new normal”, the Project IDI team has taken up necessary precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19, such as wearing masks and using hand sanitizer. They also carry extra  sets of masks and hand sanitizer to distribute to any families who may not be in a position to buy the materials.

While some children are not able to wear masks for the screening process, team members maintain an adequate distance and always ensure the children wash their hands with soap before and after the screening, and use hand sanitizer throughout.

Within 2 weeks, the Project IDI team completed screenings in 91 villages, seeing 60 children with disabilities. Nine of those children were found to have multiple disabilities with vision impairment (MDVI).

Sampada Shevde, Country Head of Perkins India says, “We are proud to be associated with Jayati Bharatam, our partner in Lucknow. They have done a commendable job to ensure that children with MDVI and single disabilities have access to educational intervention during the Covid-19 pandemic by suggesting activities to the families over telephone. We also appreciate all their efforts in screening children and supporting families in all these villages during this time. We are also thankful to the families for all their support and involvement in these activities”.