One of the worst nightmares for the Indian community is family hospitalized with COVID-19 back home in India. For the past 3 weeks, I have lived this nightmare. As I board the last flight out from New Delhi, I feel humbled, a bit incapacitated and thankful all at the same time.
I was very fortunate to have great friends and a support system in India and was able to fly back and see my family. They are fine for now, but for much of the trip, I thought about those of you who cannot travel anymore. What can you as an NRI with family over there do other than worrying?
I write this with the hope that it can help you:
Prepare your plan:
Start getting information about local hospitals including (1) private, (2) trust and (3) government hospital options. Keep in mind in most cities 80% of Remdesvir supplies from municipal corporations go to government hospitals and 20% go to private, so before you judge government facilities too quickly understand that they may be a viable option. I had a wonderful experience with a trust-owned hospital that took extremely good care of our family. Private hospitals may ask you to arrange your own oxygen or Remdesvir.
Also, at this point, it is better to go with Covid only focused facility than a multi-specialty hospital if you do get a choice as you want to go with a specialist rather than a generalist assuming all other factors being same.
I would totally discourage buying Remdesvir from the street (Yes, it’s available illegally for Rs 15-30K per injection but a lot of them are fake so you want to be very careful).
Consider donating to a local trust hospital (Example: https://www.bapscharities.org/usa/covid-19/). It may give you a reason to find a contact, do a good deed, and your donation will reach a destination where your family lives!
Buy real N-95 masks from Costco and ship them to India. I noticed people use KN-95 there because N-95 masks are just not available in India. Due to heat, it may be difficult for them to wear N-95 outdoors but they can surely wear them indoors especially where exposure is higher.
Find a lab contact that can travel to your family’s home and consider getting your household help tested as well. Many families are getting infected sitting at home through their domestic help.
Think of the closest family friend or your street-smart person with connections that will be your go-to guy or gal for managing the “stuff” (a.k.a. Jugaad). In the middle of a lock down, curfew and chasing doctors around you need a young connected person who can maneuver quickly. Everything from getting oxygen, Remdesvir, hospital admission—you will need this person who will drive it for you. You need to know now who it will be and start giving them a heads up, because you will need them a lot.
Read More at https://www.nripulse.com/so-you-are-an-nri-who-cannot-travel-to-india-what-can-you-do-to-help-loved-ones-deal-with-covid/
Comentarios