The struggle against the pandemic is not over yet. As India prepares for the third wave of COVID-19, RDT has joined hands with the authorities and civil society to raise awareness about COVID-19 preventative measures, encourage people to get vaccinated and motivate them to get tested and self-isolate at one of the state government’s quarantine centers if they test positive.

In Andhra Pradesh, RDT has accepted responsibility for raising awareness in 531 villages of the Anantapur district. For this, the organization employs several different techniques to get the message across and avert another wave of devastation.

Door to door campaign:

In an effort to spread awareness, RDT has adopted a personal approach: RDT rural health organizers visit families in the villages to inquire about their health and remind them to follow COVID-19 preventative measures: wear masks, wash hands, maintain social distance, and get vaccinated. There is at least one rural health organizer for every mandal in the Anantapur district.

Mask distribution:

Mask wearing is now mandatory for every individual and not wearing one is now a punishable offence. RDT is working to make this protective gear accessible to everyone, distributing washable and reusable masks sown by the women RDT supports across all villages.

Wall paintings:

‘Walls that speak’ is one of the effective ways to reach out to the public. Colorful paintings on walls with awareness messages catch the attention of passers-by. People stop to admire the art and read the message!

Pamphlets:

Written down in simple and easy to understand language, the pamphlets contain information about COVID-19 and the preventative measures that one must take.

Group sessions:

The group sessions are organized weekly in every village to provide everyone–young and old–with updates on COVID-19, allow them to discuss their doubts and remind them to adhere to the precautions.

COVID-19 awareness drive:

To bring communities together around fighting the virus, RDT organizes awareness drives. People of all age groups march around the village to raise awareness about COVID-19 while following preventative measures.

Awareness vehicles:

Awareness vehicles travel around the villages, blaring warnings through loud speakers to beware of the deadly virus and asking villagers to stick to the four rules: wear masks, wash hands, maintain social distance and get vaccinated. The mobile library in the Adoni region has also adopted the same technique.

Street theater:

Street theatre is a powerful tool to make an impact on the audience. When people see the COVID-19 virus personified in skits, it becomes easier for everyone to understand its severity and spectators are motivated to follow preventative measures.

Text adapted by VFF USA