BOOM

Trending Searches

    SUPPORT
    BOOM

    Trending News

      • Fact Check 
        • Fast Check
        • Politics
        • Business
        • Entertainment
        • Social
        • Sports
        • World
      • Law
      • Explainers
      • News 
        • All News
      • Decode 
        • Impact
        • Scamcheck
        • Life
        • Voices
      • Media Buddhi 
        • Digital Buddhi
        • Senior Citizens
        • Videos
      • Web Stories
      • BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos 
        • Facts Neeti
      • Home-icon
        Home
      • About Us-icon
        About Us
      • Authors-icon
        Authors
      • Team-icon
        Team
      • Careers-icon
        Careers
      • Internship-icon
        Internship
      • Contact Us-icon
        Contact Us
      • Methodology-icon
        Methodology
      • Correction Policy-icon
        Correction Policy
      • Non-Partnership Policy-icon
        Non-Partnership Policy
      • Cookie Policy-icon
        Cookie Policy
      • Grievance Redressal-icon
        Grievance Redressal
      • Republishing Guidelines-icon
        Republishing Guidelines
      • Fact Check-icon
        Fact Check
        Fast Check
        Politics
        Business
        Entertainment
        Social
        Sports
        World
      • Law-icon
        Law
      • Explainers-icon
        Explainers
      • News-icon
        News
        All News
      • Decode-icon
        Decode
        Impact
        Scamcheck
        Life
        Voices
      • Media Buddhi-icon
        Media Buddhi
        Digital Buddhi
        Senior Citizens
        Videos
      • Web Stories-icon
        Web Stories
      • BOOM Research-icon
        BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs-icon
        BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker-icon
        Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos-icon
        Videos
        Facts Neeti
      Trending Tags
      TRENDING
      • #Operation Sindoor
      • #Pahalgam Terror Attack
      • #Narendra Modi
      • #Rahul Gandhi
      • #Waqf Amendment Bill
      • #Arvind Kejriwal
      • #Deepfake
      • #Artificial Intelligence
      • Home
      • Coronavirus
      • Explained: How The 'Dharavi Model'...
      Coronavirus

      Explained: How The 'Dharavi Model' Controlled Its COVID-19 Outbreak

      The congested area in Mumbai cluster was reporting over 100 COVID-19 cases in May reported no new cases on December 25

      By - Shachi Sutaria |
      Published -  28 Dec 2020 2:30 PM IST
    • Boomlive
      Explained: How The Dharavi Model Controlled Its COVID-19 Outbreak

      Dharavi, one of Mumbai's most congested areas that was once a COVID-19 hotspot did not report any new cases on December 25 on a day when Mumbai city reported close to 600 cases. The relentless efforts of the Municipal authorities coupled with the role of the private general practitioners within the area along with community participation helped in converting Asia's largest slum from a COVID-19 hotspot to having very few active COVID-19 cases.

      This "Dharavi Model" has not only been lauded by the Union Health Ministry, but also discussed by the World Health Organization. Controlling the spread of the coronavirus in a 2.5 sq.km area which is a cluster of 10x10 square meter hutments cushioned next to each other with over 8-10 people residing in each of these hutments was an achievement that the WHO wished all other densely populated areas would emulate.

      A region favoured by migrants to live in whilst they are working in the city did not see an increase in cases when the migrants who left the city at the onset of the lockdown started to return to the city once the lockdown restrictions were lifted steadily from August.

      Kiran Dighavkar, Assistant Commissioners of G North Ward, the area which Dharavi falls under, told BOOM that Dharavi was actively carrying out the 4Ts of Tracing, Testing, Tracking and Treating to beat COVID-19. He also emphasised the role of the community in actively controlling the situation.

      "Not only did 24 private doctors participate in conducting the 4T's, they even helped in converting community halls, schools, and their own clinics as quarantining and isolation centres. Over 90% of the people who tested positive were treated within Dharavi itself. Only critical patients were admitted to hospitals outside," Dighavkar explained. A 200-bed hospital was set up in14 days with oxygen supply within the area along with forging public-private partnerships.

      In August, BOOM visited Dharavi and spoke to Dr. Anil Pachnekar, a local general practitioner who highlighted this public-private partnership endeavour that was undertaken in the area to bring down the spread of the virus. Dr. Pachnekar explained how the primary focus of the officials was to segregate the already positive patients and identify the COVID-19 hotspots in the region. These hotspots were completely sealed and community leaders appointed as COVID Yodhas ensured that the residents within their area abided all the rules.


      With over 80% of its population using community toilets, it was necessary for the civic authorities to carry out continuous screening activities and set up fever clinics. In the first phase, these private clinics helped in screening over 3.6 lakh residents within the area. The toilets and areas were also regularly disinfected.

      These doctors screened over 47,500 households and mobile vans screened over 14,900 people too. After screening, the people with symptoms were separated from the community thus helping in early detection of cases. The quarantine centres also helped in lowering the spread of the infection in the community as well as reducing the mortality rate. From an average diagnosis of 43 cases daily in May, the area is only witnessing an average of 4 cases daily in December, the assistant commissioner told BOOM.

      The 24 private doctors helped in the screening camps were also given PPE kits by the government and their clinics were sanitised by the civic authority. Along with the clinics and increasing centres for isolation, the civic authorities also increased their testing capacities. The centres were not only well equipped with all the necessary medical equipment and medications, but also provided food to the inhabitants from community kitchens that were set up to ensure that the food chain remained unaffected.

      The civic authorities are also continuing to distribute over 25,000 grocery kits and 21000 food packets for lunch and dinner separately within the containment zones so people staying inside Dharavi do not have to leave the containment zones. The local corporators, Members of Parliament, and Members of the Legislative Assembly have also distributed grocery and food items to the residents.

      "The Dharavi Model, thus, is a testimony of public-private partnership to tackle an unknown disease," concluded Dighavkar.

      Also Read:The Top Conspiracy Theories Of 2020


      Tags

      COVID-19
      Read Full Article
      Next Story
      Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
      Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker. Please reload after ad blocker is disabled.
      X

      Subscribe to BOOM Newsletters

      👉 No spam, no paywall — but verified insights.

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe for free!

      Stay Ahead of Misinformation!

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe Now🛡️ 100% Privacy Protected | No Spam, Just Facts
      By subscribing, you agree with the Terms & conditions and Privacy Policy connected to the offer

      Thank you for subscribing!

      You’re now part of the BOOM community.

      Or, Subscribe to receive latest news via email
      Subscribed Successfully...
      Copy HTMLHTML is copied!
      There's no data to copy!