KSCF-GIVE INDIA FOUNDATION PARTNERSHIP
To Protect Vulnerable Children, KSCF Rolls Out Distribution of 934 COVID-19 Kits Across 14 States
With experts warning of an impending third wave of the deadly coronavirus which could impact children more, Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation (KSCF) and Give India joined hands to provide COVID-19 care kits to Child Care Institutions spread across 14 states in India.
This assumes significance in light of the acute shortage of medical oxygen and lifesaving medical instruments which came to light during the devastating second wave of the pandemic which saw an unprecedented rise in new cases and fatalities.
Distribution of these kits aims to bolster the health and child care systems to minimize the pandemic’s impact on children.
Genesis
Realising the need for providing immediate assistance to children in Child Care Institutions (CCIs), KSCF reached out to 18 state governments across the country seeking details about availability of oxygen concentrators and medical kits.
Fourteen states responded to KSCF’s outreach and spelt out the need for oxygen concentrators and medical kits in 1500 CCIs.
KSCF and Give India Foundation got in to a series of discussions and Give India graciously approved the project for 500 COVID-19 care kits. This was further enhanced to cover 934 COVID-19 care kits including 500 oxygen concentrators.
Selection of CCIs
KSCF team scanned the list of CCIs and after detailed analysis identified 934 CCIs for providing immediate assistance with Give India Foundation’s support on a priority basis.
The CCIs were selected based on children housed in them who had been rescued from:
a. Child labour
b. Child trafficking
c. Sexual exploitation
d. Children who have been subjected to other forms of abuse
e. Run-away children
f. Street and vulnerable children
g. Children in conflict with the law
Composition of COVID-19 Kits
Based on need assessment survey, KSCF finalized 500 CCIs for delivery of medical kits along with oxygen concentrators and 434 CCIs for delivery of the medical kits.
KSCF also consulted a team of doctors and caregivers specialised in COVID-19 care for children. Based on their advice, a list of medicines was prepared for distribution.
Each COVID-19 care kit comprises of:
- Oxygen concentrators
- Oximeter
- Nebulizer
- Vaporizer
- PPE kit
- Infrared thermometer
- N-95 and surgical masks
- Gloves
- Hand sanitizer
- Medicines
KSCF approached its partner organisations for inputs and logistics support to ensure effective delivery of COVID-19 care kits.
To minimize the cost of items in the kits, KSCF approached the respective companies for procurement.