Caritas Samaritans leads the fight against Covid-19 info-demic

Hundreds of Caritas Samaritans have stepped up to volunteer at various places across Chhattisgarh to be part of the Information Sharing Centre (ISC).

Whether its awareness on covid appropriate behaviour, demystifying false news regarding covid, vaccination registration or providing the right information about vaccines, the Caritas Samaritans have not hesitated to step forward and help the needy.

Maheshwar is one such Caritas Samaritan in Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh who is leading a group of Covid warriors who is going to 10 very remote tribal villages where accessibility is very difficult to stop further spread of COVID.

“Our journey began when RDSWS (local partner) informed us about initiating Information Support Center by Caritas India. The goal of ISC seemed to match with our personal goal, hence I gathered youths from our villages and started working for the people of our communities,” shared Maheshwar.

Caritas Samaritans have put up a small canopy in the Gram Panchayat building and collected the contact details of hospitals and COVID vaccination centres. They provide information to people about vaccination, registration and health care centres. Moreover, they also started conducting meetings, door to door visits, miking in public places, pamphlets distribution, creating awareness on social distancing, usage of masks and handwashing. The constant efforts in these Caritas Samaritans could clear the misconception of many people in their village and convinced them to vaccination.

Rahul one of the Caritas Samaritan shares, “I know more than four people, who I managed to convince, they had a lot of misconceptions about vaccination such as after taking vaccination, we would die or fall sick or it pains; I sat with them every day and counselled them through examples, telling them about the need for their families etc. As a result, finally, they agreed and now they are vaccinated.”