“This disease is so dangerous, everyone is getting infected and dying from it and nobody knows how to control it. When people ask me, I have no idea what to answer…”

According to Vineeta Ray, a Community Health Officer (CHO) posted at a Health and Wellness Center (HWC) in Madhya Pradesh India, this was her biggest worry. She had heard that cases were reported in her state but had been given no clear guidance on what she could do. As she is posted in a remote region of the state, she was particularly worried about accessing accurate information quickly.  Health and Wellness Centers (HWC), part of the Government of India’s Ayushman Bharat universal health coverage plan, provide comprehensive primary health care services and each HWC serves a population of 5,000 people.

With the increasing number of cases across the country, many CHOs, like Vineeta Ray, are working around the clock to inform and protect their communities and lead their teams. However, with the increasing panic created by false and conflicting information circulating through social media and limited information available, Ray was not sure how she could help her community.  

With the rising number of cases and the need to equip CHOs with accurate information on COVID-19, the USAID-funded NISHTHA project, which works to strengthen health systems in 12 Indian States and is implemented by Jhpiego, developed a Learning Resource Package (LRP) to train them. NISHTA used virtual learning platforms to train health workers in remote areas.  The team provided standardized information on the novel coronavirus pandemic to bust myths and ensure accurate and effective information dissemination to the community without creating panic. NISHTA staff thoroughly trained the participants on how COVID-19 spreads and on preventive measures, like hand washing, coughing etiquette, and social distancing. The LRP also included job-aids, videos and other resource materials.

Ray found the training informative and felt it helped her define her responsibilities in stopping the spread of COVID-19. “I feel my role is very important for awareness generation in the community. All the villagers first come to me at the HWC for consultation,” she says with confidence.

Noting that there are many myths in the community and people are not aware of preventive measures, Ray says she “will try to remove all those myths and demonstrate correct hand washing, the importance of social distancing, and cough and respiratory hygiene.”

She is also part of a local WhatsApp group that includes village leaders, other health workers, and teachers. “Educating these people will help in spreading awareness in the community. I have already shared the local and state helpline numbers with everyone so they can get additional information related to COVID-19,” she says.

Despite the risks involved, she is now optimistic that if everyone follows preventive measures, the spread of COVID-19 can be minimized. She aims to be a positive voice amidst all of the noise.