Breaking the Silence Worldwide Foundation reaches out to local clubs
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 29 2021: With the objective to ensure protection of frontline workers and to express gratitude for their selfless service during the COVID-19 pandemic, Breaking the Silence Worldwide Foundation distributed high grade N95 masks, face shields, disinfectant and soap bars to thirty-one local clubs in Imphal East and Imphal West districts from August 27 to 30 .

Founder and social worker, Urmila Chanam informed that the exemplary leadership and contribution of local clubs and its Covid-19 volunteers in the prevention, monitoring, providing linkages to testing, vaccination and hospitalisation and distribution of essentials and medicines to households impacted by Covid-19 can easily be a best practice of community response during the pandemic not just in India but globally, said a statement by the Foundation.

Additionally these local club volunteers are not compensated in any way nor are they on the payrolls of any organization yet they risk their lives to do such a humanitarian service, she added.

Some of the local clubs where Covid protective items were distributed included Youth Brighter Club (YBC) in Maning Leikai road, Langdum, Young Men Development Organization Club (YMDO) at Heirangoithong, Kakwa Covid Task Force Co-ordinating Committee (made up of 16 leikai clubs), The Welfare Club at Sagolband Tera Amudon Akham Leikai, Socio Cultural and Sports Organisation (SCASO) at Sagolband Tera Pukhrambam Leikai, Local Disaster Response Force (LDRF) in Khumbong Bazar, Tribal Youth Club(TYC) at Tribal Market in New Lambulane, and Kuki Student Organization run Covid Care Center in Dewlahland.

Later, the challenges that the local clubs and Covid volunteers experienced were discussed with an aim to foster cross-learning, enhance impact and to address the lacunae collectively.

During the discussion, the urgent need across the clubs is for good quality masks, PPEs, hand sanitizer and gloves for leikai club Covid volunteers, technical guidance on Covid related protocol in different scenarios like death, conducting last rites, travelling and so on and getting recognized as Covid frontline workers entitled to health and life insurance or gratuity in the incident of sickness or death, and funding support to sustain their activities.

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