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Rights of Community Aid and Health Workers: Humanitarian workers of COVID-19

    Home blog Rights of Community Aid and Health Workers: Humanitarian workers of COVID-19
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    Rights of Community Aid and Health Workers: Humanitarian workers of COVID-19

    By Soumya Gupta | Health | Comments are Closed | 18 August, 2020 | 0

    By Soumya Gupta

    Image Source: Deccan Herald

    The worldwide pandemic and almost six months of being trapped inside houses have made us realise the value of the essential workers who provide for the daily needs in our community. For most of us, it is a time to take rest, remain inside the house with all comforts and luxuries, avoiding outside contact as much as we can. But a few other professions have seen a considerable rise in the demand for their work and services they provide, one of them being the healthcare workers. The entire world unanimously considers them as an angelic host saving us from perils of the deadly virus. 

    However, recently there was a mixed attitude and a noticeable change in the behaviour towards the health workers around the world. Assault on health-workers in Mexico, punching in a Chicago bus, stone-pelting in India’s Indore district, dousing with bleach in the Philippines became controversial news headlines.1 Apart from these violent incidents, sudden and urgent eviction of health workers by tenants, refusing access to public transport, denying entry to uniformed-nurses in supermarkets and various other instances of public stigmatisation were observed across the world.2

    Amidst all these mishaps, it becomes essential that we start respecting the rights of the community aid and health workers who have been continuously working in mitigating the impact of coronavirus. 

    Rights vis-a-vis employers and managers

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) released a document enlisting the rights, roles and responsibilities of a health worker.3 This document enlists the rights of a health worker to ensure proper health facilities from their employers and managers. According to this, the responsibility of the employers and managers is to ensure that they take all necessary preventive and protective measures to minimise occupational safety and health risks. They are required to provide information, instruction and training on occupational safety and health. Additional duties include that employers and managers:

    • provide adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies to healthcare or other staff caring for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients
    • familiarise personnel with technical updates on COVID-19 and provide appropriate tools to assess, triage, test and treat patients and to share infection prevention and control information with patients and the public; 
    • provide a blame-free environment for workers to report on incidents, enable co-operation between management and workers and/or their representatives and provide access to mental health and counselling resources; 
    • advise workers on self-assessment, symptom reporting and staying home when ill; 
    • maintain appropriate working hours with breaks; 
    • consult with health workers on occupational safety and health aspects of their work and notify the labour inspectorate of cases of occupational diseases; and,
    • honour the right to compensation, rehabilitation and curative services if infected with COVID-19 following exposure in the workplace. 

    Such measures ensure that the workers do not have to incur additional expenditure for occupational safety and health requirements or any disease due to occupational exposure. They are at liberty to remove themselves from situations where continuing danger to life or health exists and should be protected from undue consequences following from such action.

    Responsibilities of Health workers

    A job of a healthcare worker does not come easy as there are certain responsibilities and duties that they owe towards their patients and broadly towards society. The element of risk and uncertainty in their job requires them to adhere to a stricter set of rules and regulations. During pandemics like COVID-19, health care workers are exposed to maximum risk as they come in proximity with the infected patients compared to those working in non-acute environments. Regardless, they have a moral obligation to help patients without any form of discrimination.4. The WHO interim guidance document also mentions the responsibilities of health workers. Health workers should: 

    • follow established occupational safety and health procedures, avoid exposing others to health and safety risks, and participate in employer-provided occupational safety and health training; 
    • use provided protocols to assess, triage, and treat patients; 
    • treat patients with respect, compassion, and dignity; 
    • maintain patient confidentiality; 
    • swiftly follow established public health reporting procedures of suspected and confirmed cases;
    • provide or reinforce accurate infection prevention and control (IPC) and public health information, including to concerned people who have neither symptoms nor risk; 
    • put on, use, take off, and dispose of PPE properly; 
    • self-monitor for signs of illness and self-isolate and report illness to managers, if it occurs; 
    • advise management if they are experiencing signs of undue stress or mental health challenges that require supportive interventions; and
    • report to their immediate supervisor any situation which they have reasonable justification for believing presents an imminent and serious danger to life or health.

    Safety of health workers in India during COVID-19

    Before the global spread of the COVID19 virus, in January 2020, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) released National Guidelines For Infection Prevention And Control In Healthcare Facilities5, which touched upon the protection of healthcare workers. It recognised stress and fatigue as factors affecting their safety. It gave importance to training and education, so they understand the principles and procedures of IPC. But soon after the coronavirus was declared as a global health emergency, MoHFW issued a notice stating the measures to be adopted for the protection of health workers during COVID-19 services.6 The highlights of the notice are:-

    1. Staffing guidelines and timely payments- Payments to be made to all frontline workers such as Accredited Social Health Workers (ASHA) and service providers, including those hired outside the government sector. 
    2. Psychological Support- The Government is encouraging health professionals to practice stress management techniques. In furtherance of developing a toll-free helpline (0804611007), training modules are also designed in this regard.
    3. Training/Capacity Building– An advisory has been issued to provide guidance to states/UTs on building the human resources in medical workforce including workers employed in hospitals as well as non-medical personnel, front line workers and those who are involved in logistics and surveillance for COVID-19 management. Training resources on IPC, clinical management are updated regularly. Online courses, training and webinar sessions are conducted by AIIMS Delhi, which guide about the management of patients and providing them with psychological care, medical procedures, IPC practices, etc.
    4. Life Insurance Cover– Government has announced an Accidental insurance cover Rs. 50 Lakhs for 22.12 Lakh healthcare workers who may be drafted for services for COVID-19 patients. This amount is declared under the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Package where the claimant of any person providing services for COVID-19 can claim compensation if service providers sustain a loss of life due to COVID-19 or related duty. Government has paid the premium amount, and the insurance is free for the beneficiaries.

    These measures are necessary in light of the disastrous impact coronavirus has on the health of a person and increases the sufferings of their family. The courses and webinars are receiving enrolments and viewership in huge numbers, thus sensing a positive attitude of workers by devoting time towards learning safety measures from the virus.

    Though such measures are undoubtedly a big step towards improving the safety of health workers, timely implementation of them in our country still remains a major issue. It will benefit not only the workers but also the society if the government considers the safety of healthcare workers also as a priority during this pandemic. Ultimately, better healthcare workers will ensure better recovery of COVID-19 patients.


    Soumya Gupta is a student at NUJS, Kolkata and a member of Kautilya Society, an initiative of Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. Views are personal.

    1.  Health workers become unexpected targets during covid-19, Economist 11 May 2020. Available at: https://www.economist.com/international/2020/05/11/health-workers-become-unexpected-targets-during-covid-19[↩]
    2. Julian Sheather, Serious violations of health workers’ rights during pandemic, 14 July 2020. Available at: https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m2824[↩]
    3. World Health Organisation, Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) Outbreak: Rights, Roles And Responsibilities Of Health Workers, Including Key Considerations For Occupational Safety And Health, 19 March 2020. Available at: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who-rights-roles-respon-hw-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=bcabd401_0[↩]
    4. Adaeze Aniodoh, COVID-19 and health workers’ rights in Africa: the duty to treat or not to treat? May 5, 2020 Available at: https://blogs.bmj.com/medical-ethics/2020/05/05/covid-19-and-health-workers-rights-in-africa-the-duty-to-treat-or-not-to-treat[↩]
    5. National Guidelines For Infection Prevention And Control In Healthcare Facilities, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, January 2020. Available at: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/National%20Guidelines%20for%20IPC%20in%20HCF%20-%20final%281%29.pdf[↩]
    6. Measures Undertaken to Ensure Safety of Health Workers Drafted for COVID-19 services, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 20 April 2020. Available at: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/MeasuresUndertakenToEnsureSafetyOfHealthWorkersDraftedForCOVID19Services.pdf[↩]
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    Andhra Pradesh

    Girl Child Protection Scheme

    The Girl Child Protection Scheme is aimed at preventing gender discrimination by empowering and protecting rights of girl children through direct investment from the State Government. It provides a number of incentives to promote the empowerment of the girl child:

    • In case of a single girl child she is entitled to receive Rs.1.00 lakh after completion of 20 years of age.
    • In case of two girl children, both of them are entitled to receive Rs.30,000/- each, after completion of 20 years age.
    • Both “single girl child” and “two girl children” are entitled to receive Rs1,200/- per annum as scholarship from 9th class to 12th class (including ITI course) during their period of study, as a benefit under the scheme.

    More information on this scheme can be found here.

    Bangaru Thalli Scheme

    Bangaru Thalli is a welfare scheme for girls launched by Government of Andhra Pradesh. The scheme supports the family of a girl from her birth till her graduation. All the Below Poverty Line white card holders are eligible for the scheme.

    Details of the scheme can be found in the Andhra Pradesh Bangaru Thalli Girl Child Promotion and Empowerment Act, 2013.

    Assam

    Manjoni Scheme

    Under this scheme, Rs. 5000 is deposited by the State Government at the time of the birth of a girl child and the girl would get the matured value of this fixed deposit when she turns 18. In order to be eligible for this scheme, the girl child must be born in a Government hospital and the family should have adopted the two child norm.

    More information on this scheme can be found here.

    Bihar

    Mukhyamantri Kanya Suraksha Yojana

    Under this scheme the girl child gets financial assistance from her birth till graduation amounting to a total of Rs. 51,000. The funds will be dispersed over a period of time upon attaining a certain age and completion of certain prerequisites:

    • At birth: Rs 2000
    • Age 1 upon issuance of Aadhar card: Rs. 1000
    • Age 2: Rs. 2000
    • Passing 12th grade: Rs. 10,000
    • Graduation: Rs. 25,000

    These benefits are available to only 2 girls in a family and residents of Bihar. Girls coming from financially weaker backgrounds will be given priority. To apply to this scheme, the parents can visit the anganwadi centres, fill the application form and submit the necessary documents to the anganwadi workers.

    Goa

    MAMTA scheme for girl child

    With a view of improving the female sex ratio of the State, under this scheme an amount of Rs. 10000/- will be paid to all the mothers who deliver a girl child  (maximum 02 deliveries) in a registered medical institution. Eligible mothers can apply to the Child Development Project Officer through the local Anganwadi Centre with a copy of the Birth Certificate within 45 days from delivering the child. The benefits are directly credited to the declared Bank Account.

    There is an online application for this scheme. More information on this scheme can be found here.

    Gujarat

    Kunwarbai Nu Mameru Yojana

    The Ministry of Women and Child Development of Gujarat has launched a scheme called Kunwarbai Nu Mameru Yojana that offers financial assistance of Rs. 10,000 to only one girl of a family. However, this scheme has been started specifically for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes girls. Only those with an annual income limit of Rs. 1,20,000 (Rural areas) and Rs.1,50,000 (Urban areas) are eligible for this scheme.

    More information on this scheme can be found here.

    Haryana

    Laldi Scheme

    The Ladli Scheme of Haryana is meant to provide benefits to biological parents who have no son (biological or adopted) but only daughters. This scheme is only available to those who are either domicile of Haryana or working for the State government, whose gross annual income of the family does not exceed Rs. 2,00,000.

    The pattern of this scheme is similar to the Old Age Samman Allowance scheme for the families having only girl children. The enrolment of families under this scheme commences from the 45th birthday of the mother or the father whoever is older of the two till their 60th birthday i.e. for 15 years (Thereafter they will be eligible for Old Age Samman Allowance). The rate of allowance provided is Rs. 1,800 per month.

    More information on this scheme can be found here.

    Himachal Pradesh

    Indira Gandhi Balika Suraksha Yojana

    Under this scheme, the families adopting family planning methods after the birth of the first female child will be given a sum of Rs. 25,000 and those adopting family planning methods after the birth of two female children will be given a cash of Rs. 20,000.

    The health department of the Himachal Pradesh government also provides free of cost transportation either through taxi or ambulance for carrying pregnant women to the nearest hospital for delivery.

    Beti Hai Anmol Yojana

    Under this scheme, for all the families lying below the poverty line in Himachal and having one or two girls, a sum of Rs. 5100 will be deposited in the name of girls at the time of their birth. Moreover, to help in the education of such girls, scholarships ranging from Rs. 300 to Rs. 1500 will be given to them from class I to class XII.

    More information on this scheme can be found here.

    Jammu and Kashmir

    Ladli Beti Scheme

    Under this scheme, financial assistance of Rs. 1000 per month is made by the Government from the birth of the girl child / account opening date for the next 14 years. For this, zero balance accounts have already been opened in the Jammu and Kashmir Bank in respective localities. This is only applicable to girls born on or after 1st April 2015, and whose parental income is less than Rs. 75,000 per annum.

    More information on this scheme can be found here.

    Jharkhand

    Ladli Lakshmi Yojana

    Under this scheme, the State government offers a girl child from families below poverty line benefits of Rs. 1,80,600. An amount of Rs. 6,000 will be deposited annually into the girls account till she turns 5 years old. Further amounts will be added upon completion of higher education, marriage and so on, along with monthly allowances of Rs. 200 for girl students.

    Karnataka

    Karnataka Bhagyashree Scheme

    With the idea of raising the status of girl children and promoting their birth in the country, the Karnataka government has come up with the Karnataka Bhagyashree Scheme. The scheme provides financial assistance to the girl child in families that lie below the poverty line through her mother or father who is subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions.

    The government of Karnataka offers the following benefits to the eligible candidates of this scheme-

    • The girl child gets a health insurance cover of upto Rs. 25,000 per month
    • The child gets an annual scholarship of Rs. 300 to Rs. 1,000, depending upon her age upto 10th standard
    • The parents get Rs. 1 lakh in case of accident and Rs. 42,500 in case of natural death of the girl child.
    • On completing 18 years of age, the parents of the girl child would be paid Rs. 34,751.

    Along with this, there are certain interim payments such as annual scholarships and insurance benefits that the beneficiary can avail upon continued fulfillment of the eligibility criteria. The grant of such facilities promotes the birth of girl children in economically weaker families and raises their status within the society.

    Kerala

    Education Assistance to Women Headed Families

    The scheme proposes to extend a helping hand to these families by way of providing financial assistance to the education of children by the State government.

    More information on this scheme can be found here.

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