COVID-19 has upended our lives. The number of infections keeps soaring world-wide and entire countries are sheltering in place. Out of caution, many are keeping physical distance from each other. But out of compassion, many are helping any way they can — staying connected by phone or internet with those who are lonely; sewing masks for desperate health care workers; making donations to groups that help migrants and the homeless; pushing for policies that protect the lowest-earning members of society. If there was ever a time in which humanity should finally recognize that we belong to one connected family on Earth, this should be it. We share a single planet, drink from the same water and breathe the same air. So, whether hunkered down at home or hospital or working on the front lines, we are all doing our part to face a common enemy together. The situation we are in right now is very deplorable, and people belonging to low-income groups, marginalized, and vulnerable sections of the society are at particular risk of contracting the epidemic. Not everybody can choose to live in isolation and practice quarantine.

Kerala has been a homeland for lakhs of migrant labours for many years, who work as daily wage laborers and earn their daily bread. Ever since the national lockdown has been announces, these daily wage migrant workers are left jobless. They do not have access to healthcare because of various reasons- awareness, language, location. In understanding the context, Caritas India in collaboration with her partners have come forward to extend the possible help for this vulnerable section of society, as its social responsibility.

In the background of COVID 19, the Diocesan Social Service Societies are taking good steps in conducting free Medical Camps for Migrant workers in collaboration with various stakeholders such as District administration, Health Department, Police Department, and hospitals. Santhwanam and Welfare Services Ernakulam have organized 47 medical camps in 21 places in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts of Kerala. The target population has been migrant daily wage workers and as many as 2252 people have received medical support from these camps in various places such as Puthur, Thiroor, Kannara, Peechi, Manjapetty, Pulleppady and many more.

The medical camps are conducted at the sites or colonies where migrant labourers live, upholding the social distancing protocol and all the safety measures. Each medical camp has 5 doctors, 3 nurses, DSSS officials, and Police officials from appropriate areas. The services of medical camps include basic screening for any sort of medical issues, awareness generation on Covid-19 health emergency, precaution and prevention of COVID-19, and providing psycho-social support. Apart from this, the medical centres are also distributing face masks and sanitizers to those in need. If anybody is found with symptoms associated with COVID-19 like fever, cough, throat pain or breathing trouble, the nearest Public Healthcare Centre is immediately alerted.

One of the beneficiaries of the Medical Camp was Unnamalai, a 42 years old migrant who lives in Vathuruthy, Ernakulam. She is originally from Dindigul, Kottai, in Tamil Nadu. Her husband’s name is Vijayraman and has two children- Abhishek, 21 years old and Soumya, 17 years old. Unnamalai is a coolie employee in naval base, and with COVID19 pandemic, she has not been able to go to work and earn the money, required to support the family. She said- “With these medical camps, the hope and confidence among us migrant labourers has increased and the fear for the covid-19 disease is decreased. We are given masks and sanitizers which are not available in the market. We feel that we are not alone, the people are with us in this dangerous time. I feel that this is home away from home.”

The entire process of identification of the communities, areas and officials was spearheaded by Fr. Joy Mookkan and Fr. Jose, the directors of Santhwanam and WSE respectively. With the support of various stakeholders, the medical camps have been running very smoothly, catering to the needs of most vulnerable. We should understand that those with underlying social, economic or physical vulnerabilities will suffer the most. Quick and drastic action can flatten the curve for coronavirus. With this understanding, Caritas India is committed to expand its services and help those in need. We plan on conducting more free medical camps in different pockets in Kerala.