Dear RAN Chairman and General Secretary Sahebharu,
With the recent Government announcement of Phase 1 of the relaxation of the lockdown, I thought it would be timely to provide you and your members with a quick update on GWT(N)’s response. It also provides some advice to your members; similar messages are being posted on the GWT(N) Website, Facebook and Viber Group. As always, please feel free to distribute this update.
In general, GWT(N)’s operation will not significantly change during Phase 1. Key points to note are as follows:
1. Until further notice, GWT(N) will continue to deliver medicines and welfare pensions to beneficiaries by home visits as we have been doing during the lockdown.
2. Telephone consultations at AWCs will continue as before, but there are procedures in place for face-to-face consultations if required and advised by our medical staff.
3. We encourage pensioners with hospital bills to present these to AWCs as soon as possible.
4. Pensioners with other enquiries are strongly requested to phone the AWC before visiting.
5. Cash-paid Welfare Pensioners are encouraged to open bank accounts and provide AWCs with the account details.
6. We have moved our Residential Home (RH) staff into the RH Compounds and isolated the staff and the residents from all external contacts, including from the local AWC staff. We feel this is the best way of protecting our potentially vulnerable residents.
7. Similar procedures are in place at AWC Darjeeling, but with additional compliance with local regulations.
8. All of our operations will continue to comply strictly with screening procedures, social distancing and infection-prevention protocols, including the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
9. All GWT(N) beneficiaries are strongly advised to:
– Minimise travel outside of the home for essential activities only
– Avoid congested gatherings, locations and transport.
– Maintain social distancing and good hand-washing and cleaning regimes – especially when shopping.
– Wear a face-mask or similar covering.
Separately, you may wish to be aware of the following progress on Community Aid projects by our RWSP staff and the Project Cell:
– RWSP have now completed 85 out of 110 water projects for this year, including 22 completed during the lockdown. 20 projects are ongoing, but 4 drilling projects in the Terai remain suspended due to the COVID risk, and one project is yet to start. Together, these projects will benefit 7,000 households and 40,000 beneficiaries.
– RWSP have also been funded by DfID to assist the Government’s COVID efforts. So far, they have operated across 6 provinces, 28 Districts and 26 Palikas, and provided direct/indirect support to over 3,000 beneficiaries. They have supported 53 health facilities, 14 Government institutions, and 17 Quarantine Centres. This includes: PPE distribution at 41 sites, WASH facilities (hand washing stations) at 37 sites and WASH advocacy at 17 sites. Work at a further 39 sites is planned, including at 13 Quarantine Centres.
– Project Cell’s status for this Financial Year is as follows (with efforts ongoing to re-start all suspended projects ):
# Major Schools: All 3 projects have re-started with estimated completion dates of 31 Jul, 15 Aug and 14 Sep
# Community Halls: 1 project is completed. The other is ongoing and is estimated to complete on 30 Jun
# Minor School Extensions: 2 completed, 2 re-started/ongoing and 2 suspended. Estimated completion by mid Sep
# School refurbishments: Only 7 out of 27 remain incomplete, but only require site visits and preparation of completion reports.
# Welfare Pensioner Home Re-Builds: 60 completed and 52 currently suspended. Estimated completion by end Sep, but we are ensuring that roofing work is completed before the monsoon.
Although the lockdown has delayed many of this year’s projects by 2-3 months, we are confident that we can still meet our targets of 2 Major Schools, 12 Minor Schools, 27 Refurbishments and 100 WP Homes for the next Financial Year.
In summary, GWT(N) remains committed to doing the best we can for all our beneficiaries under these difficult circumstances. However, we are also concerned that the relaxation of the lockdown may increase the risk of the virus spreading to our staff and beneficiaries. We therefore encourage everyone to be extra-cautious. The lockdown is relaxing; but COVID-19 is not!
I sincerely hope that you, your members and all families stay safe and healthy.
Best Wishes,
Elton
Elton Davis
Field Director