Introduction:

In January 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of a new coronavirus disease in Hubei Province, China to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Since then WHO has declared it as a Pandemic affecting more than 115 countries around the globe. India has seen its first COVID-19 case in Kerala on 30th January 2020. With cases rising steadily, all sections of our society must play a role if we are to stop the spread of this disease and the frontline health worker has the responsibility, the reach and the influence within the community.

UNICEF and WHO are supporting the government of India in taking action to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

ROLE OF THE FRONTLINE WORKER

  1. Provide information on

(a) Preventive and control measures including social distancing

(b) Addressing myths and misconceptions;

  1. Support DSO on

(a) Contact tracing as per SOPs

(b) Implementing home quarantine, home care, and supportive services for HRG and probable cases urban/ rural areas and

(c) Address psychosocial care and stigma and discrimination.

  1. Reporting and feedback
  2. Team safety and prevention
  3. Supportive supervision

Health – ANM (Under guidance of DSO/MO)

Health – ASHA, CHV (in urban areas) and ICDS – AWW (Under guidance of ASHA Facilitator and CDPO)

  1. Community awareness through inter-personal communication

(a) Uptake of preventive and control measures including social distancing (b) addressing myths and misconceptions;

  1. Support ANM/Supervisor in house to house surveillance including

(a) Identification of HRG and probable cases

(b) Ensure uptake of medical services in urban and rural areas and

(c) Psychosocial care and stigma and discrimination

  1. Reporting and feedback
  2. Personal safety and precautions
  3. Use of COVID 19 IEC materials

Training Objectives

At the end of the training the ASHA/ANM/AWW will be able to do the following:

  • Supporting community surveillance process (Early identification and reporting) • Strengthening community linkage with public health services on preparedness, prevention, and control (home quarantine, home care, stigma and discrimination) including community / family support systems. • Enhancing uptake of response and control of public health measures (safe behaviours and social distancing measures and early self-reporting if symptoms develop) and tracking and addressing of rumours and misinformation. • Protection of health care workers from acquiring COVID-19.

KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS

Case definitions during cluster containment and community transmission and communication of symptoms for early detection.

Community surveillance and reporting process

Information on Public health services for prevention and control, management of suspected cases (Symptomatic and Asymptomatic) including home quarantine, home care and stigma and discrimination, self-reporting, understanding co-morbidities and other risk groups (travel history or contacts: Corona affected countries/areas)

Safety and precautions for self-Myths and misinformation

Inter-personal communication to improve community involvement in COVID-19 prevention and control measures including early health seeking behaviour

Management of HRGs (Identification, tracking and reporting) and communicating

Building and maintaining supportive environment to tackle anxieties, fears, stigma and discrimination, and support high-risk groups, self-reporting, effective use of COVID-19 IEC materials

Effective use of COVID 19 IEC materials, protection measures like handwashing, social distancing, cough etiquette and correct use of medical mask while contact tracing

Session 1: Understanding COVID- 19, Communication for Response and Containment Measures a. Roles and Responsibilities of the Health Workers/ ICDS Workers

Session 2: Prevention: Safe Practices in the Community

  1. Preventive services: ASHA/ANM/FLW to communicate for preparedness in the face of a COVID-19 outbreak at the community level

Session 3: Community Surveillance

Session 4: Supportive Public Health Services: Community and Households

  1. Control services (Home quarantine, home care, stigma and discrimination and supportive services for HRG)
  1. Handling of myths and misconceptions; reporting and feedback through cluster containment, community transmission at the epidemic stage
  1. Effective use of IEC materials on COVID-19

Session 5:  Managing Stigma and Discrimination

Session 6: Communication, Personal Safety for Health, ICDS Personnel (15 minutes

Session 7: Special Communication Needs in Urban Areas