The ROADIS team in India has created #TeamCOVIDCare, looking for quick solutions to help us protect our team members from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative has been coordinated from our headquarters in Gurgaon, and has been deployed across all the regions where we operate in the country.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, India has recorded more than 26 million infections and more than 300,000 deaths. The second wave of the pandemic, in April and May of this year, caused dramatic situations in this country, which is home to 18% of the world’s population.
It was then that this campaign was launched in May 2021. It was a particularly delicate moment when, in addition to the need to keep the roads we manage in operation, there were other concerns: medicines became scarce; there were no beds available in hospitals; and oxygen cylinders ran out.
It was then that this internal network was spontaneously organized: the #TeamCOVIDCare, which took action with a clear objective, to protect our teams and their families. Providing much-needed support in the face of the second wave of the pandemic, which is still ongoing. Subsequently, coverage was extended to cover staff and family members of contractors and partners.
The work of this team is organized around three main lines of action:
- Organized in a very efficient network of contacts, through telephone and e-mail, they ensure the supply of oxygen cylinders and medicines. At the same time, they coordinate the ambulance service, facilitating the transfer of those in need to hospitals.
- Medical consultations, accompaniment and support for people affected by COVID.
- Periodic COVID–19 follow-up committees at the central office and at the projects to develop, review, monitor and implement strategies for managing this crisis.
But, beyond the design of this strategy and the definition of procedures… what have they done? They have focused on guaranteeing a series of essential services in the current situation such as: health insurance coverage for workers and family members; payment of additional medical expenses in case the existing coverage is exceeded during hospitalization; help desk for assistance in dealing with insurance; and, financial assistance to immediate family members of workers.
In addition, in the context of #TeamCOVIDCare they have deployed an awareness campaign and have organized two sessions (webinars) entitled: “Early Diagnosis, Home Care & Other Essential Information” with the purpose of conveying important information to cope with the virus. Events in which more than 1,500 people have participated so far.
Another line of work of the #TeamCOVIDCare has been to organize a vaccination campaign, even though vaccines were a very scarce commodity. This involved numerous arrangements with the health authorities, access to vaccine stock, etc. From our offices we have coordinated the setting up of several camps at toll plazas where more than 600 people have already been vaccinated. As of today, work continues, with the objective of vaccinating 100% of the team and their families.
In the event of a future wave of COVID, the team is already preparing to continue expanding the facilities with the idea of continuing to protect during the pandemic.
We are very proud of the work of our team in India… Congratulations on this initiative!