Battling the second wave: addressing
emergency health needs; protecting livelihoods
A proposal by SEWA Cooperative Federation and Lok Swasthya SEWA Trust
Background: situation on ground and main challenges
The second wave of COVID-19 has spread quickly and ruthlessly, affecting both urban and rural
parts of India. Largely due to an unprepared and overwhelmed health infrastructure, there has
been a loss of many lives and livelihoods. The pandemic also continues to generate immense
fear in people.
The impact of this crisis has fallen disproportionately on informal women workers. Women are
primarily tasked with caring for the sick, as well as responsible for household work. They have
lost their source of income, putting them and their households in great distress.
The needs of our members are centred around availability and access to basic medical
resources like oximeters, thermometers, along with a basic health kit with sanitisers/soaps,
paracetamol, Vitamin D, C, B-complex with zinc, masks. Since many of the members have
either tested positive themselves or have at least a family member who is positive, easy access
to emergency services like oxygen cans and concentrators is also required.
Finally, the need for awareness and information via various means remains high: testing
information, vaccine awareness and precautions on COVID-19 (prone position, breathing
techniques). The awareness campaign also needs to re-emphasise the importance of masks,
washing hands and social distancing.
