VHS-COVID 19 Slum Intervention Project
Supported by the Bill & Milinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)
(2020 - 2021)

Strategies

The project has undertaken systematic and strategic efforts for planning and implementation of the planned activities. The project has adapted the key strategies such as:

Approaches

Key Activities

Key Achievements

Mental health

• All KPs are underserved, irrespective of the sexual and gender identity and are undergoing mental health related issues like low self-esteem, anxiety disorders, depression, substance use disorders, suicidal tendency owing to gender inequalities, poverty, unemployment, stigma, discrimination. During the COVID pandemic, the mental health problems of KPs aggravated due to lack of income, limited livelihood options which ultimately resulted in more stress and psychological issues.
• The project administered the quality of life (QoL) tool prescribed by WHO and identified that more than 80% of MSM/TGs were undergoing mental health problems like depression, low self-esteem, negative feelings, loneliness, fear / worry about their life, increased risk of violence, stigma, discrimination due to gender identity and sexual orientation.
• The project has capacitated 24 CBOs to enable them to plan, implement, manage mental health services. The communities were promoted as barefoot counselors (called DOST, meaning Friends in English) at the CBO level. They were oriented (virtually) on mental health screening and counselling by professional mental health counselors. The communities who got trained, facilitated their peers on mental health counselling via online, based on the need. Around 1000 MSM/TGs got benefitted through mental health counselling during the COVID pandemic.

Key Publications

IEC Materials

Photos

Media Publicity

Conclusion / Way forward

Based on the secondary review, interactions with the project team and community members, information collected from the community members and stakeholders through qualitative and quantitative studies, based on the analysis, evolved the recommendations for continuation, dissemination, scaling up and contribute for prevention of COVID 19 and other health issues in urban slums:

• Continue and expand: Considering the innovations, strategic approaches, best practices and results demonstrated, the same project may be continued in the same area with additional focus, expand such project in other slums in Chennai and provide technical assistance to the NGOs working in the slums.
• Promote National / Regional Resource Center for Slums: It is suggested to establish a National / Regional Resource Center for Slums for serving as a nodal center for networking and providing strategic technical support for improving the interventions in slums. Some of the core areas of the resource center may include: capacity building, developing proto-type resource materials, develop pool of experienced consultants, piloting innovations, undertaking important researches, develop standardized research tools, conducting series of training programs, facilitate for linkages to avail additional expertise / resources, support in documentation and dissemination, etc. This center may also serve as a one stop shop for networking and strengthening the slum intervention programs in a region or at national level.
• E-Center at community level: Establishing computerized E-Center managed by trained community volunteer to extend support in the areas of: submitting online applications, downloading the needed information for the students, collect and disseminate among youth on job opportunities, extend support in drafting and sending representation to the government development departments, etc. This process will help the slum dwellers including students, adolescents, youths, adults, and others to get acquainted with e-based services considering the emerging requirements.
• Standardized resource kit on web portal: Standardize the tools, training materials, communication materials, etc and evolve systems to upload in the e-platform to enable interested organizations and individuals to access and benefit.
• Develop proto-type communication materials on all core slum community needs including videos, e-posters, demonstrations, best practices, voices from the goodwill ambassadors / celebrities, etc. These materials may be developed in English or in a regional language to enable all interested organizations to replicate and use with customization. This effort will be of permanent effort and encourage all organizations and stakeholders to communicate effectively and comprehensively.
• Dissemination of best practices: VHS has conducted online dissemination on “Need of holistic approach during COVID 19”. Similarly based on the multiple learnings and best practices demonstrated, series of online sessions may be conducted on sequential basis to enable the social workers, community professionals, organizations associated with the slum development activities, academicians, researchers, etc.
• State level conference on experiences of working with slums: VHS in coordination with key stakeholders can organize a two or three-day state level conference on experiences of working with slums for facilitating technical update, experience sharing and evolving recommendations for strengthening slum intervention programs to represent to government, identifying challenges and evolving plans to address, understand the emerging needs and evolving plans, etc. In this conference, researchers, academicians, NGOs, social workers, health professionals, experts / consultants and others can participate and benefit.
• Online certificate program on COVID 19 prevention in slums: VHS with the support of BMGF constituted a state level technical team and develop presentations, formulate online courses and continue to conduct online certificate program to enable interested individuals and organizations to undergo, learn, and adapt. 5-6 contact sessions along with presentations, video screening, etc may be conducted. This will help in enhancing the capacities of the development professionals and integrate the project experiences in the ongoing health and COVID 19 related activities.

Contact Us

Director - Projects
CHARTERED - Projects Division
The Voluntary Health Services (VHS)
Rajiv Gandhi Salai, TTTI Post,
Taramani, Chennai – 600 113.
Email ID: williams@vhsprojects.org

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