Covid-19: Slum dwellers in Mumbai at risk, again, in third wave

Medics screen residents in Dharavi. File pic/Suresh Karkera

Even as the second wave of Covid-19 gradually abates, the threat of a third novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak looms large, and experts have warned that along with children, residents in the city's slums would be hit hard.

Keeping this in mind, the BMC has planned to give special training to paediatricians and put more emphasis on hygiene in slum areas, public toilets and other public facilities. "The first wave affected the slum population and many senior citizens, while high-rises and youth were hit hard during the second wave," said a civic official.

BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has instructed officers to be prepared and alert for the third wave. Additional commissioner Suresh Kahani has instructed all 24 wards to organise training programs for paediatricians. It will be conducted in physical attendance of doctors, and in batches to maintain a safe distance.

The Paediatric Task Force will guide the paediatricians. The responsibility of overall planning will be on Ramesh Bharmal, director of Medical Education and Major Hospitals of the BMC. "We found that face-to-face training is more effective as our task force members and ward war room doctors can communicate with private practitioners. We are preparing a module for training and the programme schedule will be in accordance with the paediatricians and general practitioners," said Dr Bharmal.

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In slums, the BMC is also focusing on hygiene. Chahal asked officials to increase home visits for tracing and testing for Covid-19 at the level of all health posts. Kakani said, "All the ward officers have been asked to prepare an action plan immediately and submit it to the executive health officer. The training of paediatricians will start as soon as possible."

Result of 3rd serosurvey

The third serosurvey, conducted in March this year, found that seropositivity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody increased in non-slum areas and decreased in slums. It tested 10,197 citizens in the city and found IgG antibodies in 36.30 per cent of them.

In the third survey, blood samples were collected from municipal clinics as well as private medical labs. It showed that 41.6 per cent seropositivity was found in the blood samples taken from municipal hospitals (slum areas). It was 57 per cent in the first survey conducted in July 2020, and reduced to 45 per cent in the second survey done in August 2020.

Blood samples taken from private labs (non-slum areas) showed a seropositivity of 28.5 per cent this year, up from 16 per cent in the first survey and 18 per cent in the second.