Building community against the odds - Part 2: “fighting the spread of covid door to door”
As of May 6th, the WHO records just over 2,200 covid-19 related deaths in Mexico and the covid curve remains steep. Health officials estimate that infection levels are at least eight times higher than what is on record (Guardian - April 23rd). Outside the big centres, there is little or no capacity to test for the virus. If you show up to Tlamacazapa’s health centre with covid19 symptoms, you are most likely sent home, report Atzin team members. The hospital, an hour away in Taxco, is an option for serious cases but for the majority without vehicles, getting there hinges on finding a taxi driver willing to take the risk. In the central La Montaña region of Guerrero, populated with indigenous communities much like Tlamacazapa, there already have been 30 deaths to May 3rd, according to Tlachinollan, a social justice centre based in the town of Tlapa.
From the initial round of house-to-house calls (April 20th blog) the Atzin promotors report that the virus is percolating in Tlamacazapa. Keeping the number of presumptive cases in check is now top priority, they say.
The team already knows where to find the poorest households as they launch their covid campaign. The team will mask up the community, spreading door to door awareness about prevention and “at home” care of the ill, and will ensure that families in need get basic food supplies - lentils, beans and rice.
Four food “distributions” are planned for May, targeted at 400 priority households. Recipients are given a food card with instructions to show up at the Atzin centre on a specific day.
Last week, after doing a practice run, the team organized its first distribution. As householders arrive, they clean their hands with disinfectant, and register. After registration they sit on benches waiting for their turn. A promotor explains the use and care of cloth masks. Then, each person is fitted for a face mask. Families with children under five are weighed. Click to enlarge the images below.
Promoters bag lentils in preparation for distribution.
Before they leave the centre, the promoter confirms the size of the family. The bigger the family, the more bags of beans or lentils are given. The number of family members in the household is noted on her "ficha" registration card and on the Atzin master list.
The last step - the families pick up their food allocation.
On the days children are weighed, the Atzin team can see 50 households. At the weekly distributions in-between, the team plans on seeing double that number.
At this time other regular Atzin programs – early stimulation, special needs, and education/ literacy programs and the dental clinic -- are suspended. The exception is the midwifery program. Promoters trained to support mothers during prenatal care integrate covid precautions into their routines.
Supporting from Canada until she can return to Mexico, Susan is proud and inspired by her Atzin colleagues and by the young promotors who are showing such courage on this Covid front line.
Stay tuned for a third update at the end of May. Then, it will be more apparent how this work helps residents of Tlamacazapa weather the virus. In the meantime, Atzin continues to need urgent support. Among other things, the organization didn’t bank on having to purchase black beans and lentils at inflated prices to feed the village. To date, the food bill is $5,000. But that will only be enough to meet the requirements of two distributions.
A stack of black beans, purchased and ready to make into kilo sized allocations.
For more information:
visit http://www.atzin.org
please consider a tax deductible donation.