Thousands of covid medical kits are set to be available with the parish volunteer for the people with covid symptoms in Kerala. Caritas India in association with Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) and Kerala Social Service Forum (KSSF) is reaching out to 32 Diocesan Social Service Society partners with the support of Covid medical kits.

Covid medical kits of Caritas India will reach out to 3250 families in Kerala with a medical kit consists of a Pulse oximeter, Digital thermometer, Steam inhaler, Mask, Sanitizer, hand wash and a guideline document for using pulse-oximeter and digital thermometer. 

The state-level official launch of the programme ‘Reach out, Give Life’ covid kit was inaugurated by Cardinal Mar. George Alencherry, Major Archbishop, Syro-Malabar Church, President, KCBC. Cardinal Alencherry handed over the first kits to Bishop Mar. Joshua Ignatius (Bishop of Mavelikkara Diocese, CBCI Vice President) and Bishop Joseph Kariyil (Bishop of Cochin Diocese) at Pastoral Orientation Centre, KCBC, Ernakulam, Kerala on 7th July 2021. 

With Covid-19 numbers plateauing at a fairly high level, the State of Kerala has raised concern for State and Central Government. It has the highest numbers of covid positive infections in both in rural and urban areas with a steadily rising mortality rate. The government is trying its best but due to the high number of cases and late detection of the virus, it becomes almost impossible for them to control at this level. Identifying and solving the cases at family is the only solution to address this issue. In this context, Caritas India appears to address the issue with the program ‘Reach out, Give Life’ providing home-based care with Covid medical kits.

“The project of Caritas India ‘Reach out, Give Life’ is as wonderful as a caption for Kerala, these are gifts and a great commitment by Caritas India to the society especially poor people who are stricken by this pandemic covid-19,” said Cardinal George Alencherry in his inaugural speech. He also thanked the Syro-Malabar diocese of Melbourne and the Catholic mission for their support. Bishop Joseph Kariyil after receiving the kits shared that “Caritas India through this project provided healthy kits, and it is a path to new life, a new life for the redemption from this pandemic”. Soon after the inaugural, a guideline document for using a pulse oximeter and digital thermometer was released by the Bishops during the inauguration ceremony. 

Fr. Jacob G. Palackapally, Deputy Secretary-General of KCBC shared that “these covid kit support by Caritas India is giving more inspiration to the Church in Kerala in her attempts to prevent covid cases” Rev. Fr. Jacob Mavunkal thanked Caritas India for this timely support, he said that “these kits will be distributed among the families having members with covid symptoms, the special intervention of Caritas India in collaboration with Catholic Mission and Syro-Malabar Diocese of Melbourne is ineffable in this crucial time” 

Because it is the concern of the parish to take care of the health of people, KCBC with the support of Caritas India is focusing on a parish-based health care system for the needy people and formulated a process for the implementation of the Covid medical kit project. Each parish volunteer will select the neediest families with the recommendation of the Parish Priest irrespective of religion. 

A religious sister doctor/ doctor is arranged by the Diocesan Health unit along with a volunteer, who will be receiving the daily updates on health status from all the patients. Daily monitoring will be done by the Parish Priest over the phone and by the team of volunteers who will be available for any further help. The patients will be given needed psycho-social support over mobile phones by the sister doctor/ doctor and volunteer youth. The trained nurses available in the parishes will give continuous support to volunteers and the infected families.

This model could be further extended with the help of more recourses. The covid medical kits will be reaching to the families in the coming day.