The aim of the partnership project between the Shining Eyes India e.V. and the St. Mary’s Child and Mother Health Care Centre is to ensure the continuation of mother-child care during the COVID-19 pandemic in the severely affected state of West Bengal. For this purpose, mobile health teams will provide medical care to about 360 households in 12 villages in the Birbhum District and will accompany suspected COVID-19 patients to St. Mary Health Care Centre for testing and treatment or to specialised clinics for further diagnosis and treatment. A special focus will be laid on the medical and nutritional situation of pregnant women, mothers and their children, as well as elderly, single and seriously ill persons.\r
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Moreover, medical staff and chronically ill patients will be provided with protective clothing. Health personnel will be trained in the handling of COVID-19 patients and awareness campaigns will be conducted in the surrounding villages in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.\r
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In addition, the free medical care services at St. Mary's Health Care Center (e.g. preventive checkup, diagnostics, diagnosis, medical treatment, follow-up care) will be expanded and open consultation hours, which currently take place on two days, will be extended to additional days.\r