COVID Helpine for the Visually Impaired

In the wake of the recent huge spike in cases, the Blind Relief Association, as one of the oldest organizations working for the welfare and empowerment of the visually impaired and as earnest partners in the development sector launched a COVID Helpline for the Visually Impaired on 28 April 2021.
 
Depending heavily on the sense of touch, a visually impaired person is much more vulnerable and needs special care/attention to be able to fight the pandemic as they live through the widespread fears and unforeseen difficulties resulting due to the second wave. Adding to this, she or he has to struggle much more to access and avail basic common amenities, assured food, and primary health care facilities. Many working in private and unorganised sectors also lost their jobs and are facing financial uncertainties resulting in serious worries and anxieties.
 
Through this Helpline the team has been reaching out to the visually impaired persons and their families in distress and offering them the needed psychological/medical counselling; getting them connected with hospital/medical services, and as far as possible provide basic medicine kits and ration.

The team is delivering ration packets and medicines using the Association’s staff and also through partnering organizations like Saksham Seva (समदृष्टि क्षमता विकास एवं अनुसन्धान मण्डल) and Family of Disabled to persons with other disabilities as well. These services are being provided in Delhi NCR area. The Helpline receives requests from several other states as well such as Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Assam, Jharkhand, and Haryana. Using contacts in these states, the team extends support and supplies to the affected persons.

The Helpline was conceived and is being executed with the active participation of the alumni of the Association, partnering with the Department of Social Work, University of Delhi. The Helpline Team comprises the Association’s staff, counsellors (majorly comprising the alumni), volunteer doctors, and students from the Department of Social Work, University of Delhi.

Special Thanks
1. Narmada Foundation for donating 500 ration kits
2. Yogoda Satsanga Society of India for donating 30 ration kits and medicines and Mr Dushyant Meher for coordinating it. 
3. Saksham Seva (समदृष्टि क्षमता विकास एवं अनुसन्धान मण्डल) and Family of Disabled for providing logistic support within Delhi & NCR.
4. Love Care Share Foundation, Prerana Trust, National Association for the Blind, Mumbai, etc. and individual donors for partnering in delivering ration/medicines outside Delhi NCR. 
5. Ms Ahaana Bharat Ram and the team at Spot ON & OFF for donating 500 sanitary kits. The kits contain four reusable sanitary napkins and a Braille information booklet prepared by the Spot On & Off team and printed at the Blind Relief Association.