Covid survivors, their family members and healthcare professionals came together on Doctors’ Day to launch the Covid Care Network (CCN), a support group that will cater to the needs of Covid-infected patients and their families. The group aims to eliminate stigma, improve access to healthcare and provide psycho-social support to the patients and their families.
“When I got infected, my family and I underwent an ordeal due to the stigma. I wanted to help those facing similar trauma,” said Sayantan Chakraborty, a doctor who is part CCN.
In addition to allaying fear and stigma, CCN will also give medical advice during home isolation and help patients get hospital admission if necessary. The organization will use social media, dashboards and 24×7 helpline numbers where experts and volunteers will provide guidance and counselling on social, as well as medical, issues.
“If all goes well, the helpline number will become operational from Monday. We have started with our social media account,” said cardiologist Arijit Ghosh, CCN president.
Other club members include Arindam Das, an advocate, Amrita Panda, a survivor who did not need hospital admission, and family members of Covid patients. The organisation will also have a number of intern doctors along with senior health professionals as volunteers. Most of the interaction between group members and the public will be virtual, but, if required, team members will visit those in distress.
“If the need arises we will be physically present to help with the situation. We are also trying to work with like-minded people from other states so that the network is replicated there,” said SSKM hepatology head Abhjit Chowdhury.
Source:Times of India
