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. 2023 Oct 30;11(5):e2200315.
doi: 10.9745/GHSP-D-22-00315. Print 2023 Oct 30.

UDHAVI Community Support During India's Second COVID-19 Wave: A Descriptive Study on a Tertiary Care Center's Pandemic Response Helpline

Balu Krishna Sasidharan  1 , Ranjit Immanuel James  2 , Sowmya Sathyendra  3 , R Harsh  4 , Jenifer Jeba Sundararaj  5 , Vinitha Ravindran  6 , Hannah Mary Thomas T  1 , Narmada Ashok  7 , Madan Mohan Thirunavukkarasu  8 , John Victor Punitha  9 , Tarun K George  9 , Barney Thomas Jesudason Isaac  10 , Arun John Zechariah  11 , Samuel N J David  12 , Dass Prakash Yesupatham  13 , Aparna Irodi  14 , Vijay Aruldas  15 , Shyamkumar Nidugala Keshava  16 , Anand Zachariah  9 , Gagandeep Kang  17 , Joy John Mammen  13
Affiliations

UDHAVI Community Support During India's Second COVID-19 Wave: A Descriptive Study on a Tertiary Care Center's Pandemic Response Helpline

Balu Krishna Sasidharan et al. Glob Health Sci Pract. .

Abstract

Background: In April 2021, during the peak of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, hospitals overflowed with COVID-19 patients, and people hesitated to seek necessary care due to fear of contracting the disease. The UDHAVI helpline was set up by a tertiary care hospital in Vellore with the help of district administration, nongovernmental organizations, and various supporting agencies to provide general information, medical advice, counseling, and logistics support to the community.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of all the phone calls made to the UDHAVI helpline between mid-May and mid-June 2021 during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The calls were electronically captured as part of the process, and the information was subsequently retrieved and analyzed.

Results: In all, 677 calls were received. The lines for general information, medical advice, counseling, and logistics support received 168 (25%), 377 (56%), 15 (2%), and 117 (17%) calls, respectively. Home care kits, oxygen concentrators, and food were delivered by volunteers from local nongovernmental organizations and hospitals.

Conclusion: We believe the details of our experience would be useful in the preparedness and mobilization of resources in the event of any public health emergency. As a result of this initiative, we propose an integrated partnership model for emergency response to any pandemic situation.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Framework and Team Hierarchy of the UDHAVI Helpline for COVID-19 Support in Vellore, India
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Outline of Interactive Voice Response for the UDHAVI Helpline for COVID-19 Support in Vellore, India Abbreviation: CMC, Christian Medical College Vellore.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Workflow for the Counseling Area of the UDHAVI Helpline for COVID-19 Support in Vellore, India
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Composition of the Volunteer Team for the UDHAVI Helpline for COVID-19 Support in Vellore, India
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Integrated Partnership Model Based on the UDHAVI Helpline for COVID-19 Support in Vellore, India Abbreviation: NGO, nongovernmental organization.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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