India’s Dharavi model for COVID-19 has paved the way for the rest of the world. Asia’ largest slum, Dharavi successfully contained coronavirus through its ‘Chase The Virus’ policy. And now, Philippines reached out to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to implement Mumbai’s Dharavi model of containing COVID-19 in its densely populated slums. Dharavi witnessed single-digit cases since the past few days. It also flattened its curve by the end of June. In 2019, Dharavi even topped Taj Mahal on the list of travellers choice experience.
Dharavi Model To Be Implemented By Philippines To Fight COVID-19
The Philippines government approached BMC to follow its Dharavi model for containing coronavirus in its slums. Iqbal Singh Chahal, BMC commissioner stated to media houses on July 18, “The Philippines government will be following the Dharavi model for containing Covid-19 in densely populated slums of Philippines.” He said that BMC shared the details fo the Dharavi model with the health department of the Philippines.
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Dharavi witnessed cases in single digits since the past few days. It flattened its curve by the end of June. This is in contrast to the number of cases reported in a single day in May. On May 3, the slum recorded its single-day highest number of cases at 94. The total number of coronavirus cases touched 2,672. However, it currently has 80 active cases. The doubling rate is 269 days and growth rate stands at 0.27%. This is in direct contrast with May where the growth rate was at its peak at 4.8%.
Dharavi Model Involves Testing In High Numbers, Organising Fever Camps & Door-Door Surveys
The Dharavi model for containing the spread of coronavirus includes testing in high numbers and moving Covid positive patients to institutional quarantine facilities. It also involves shifting high and low-risk contacts to separate quarantine facilities and treating patients in time. BMC also organised fever camps and door to door surveys. It also used private clinics and dispensaries to reach maximum number of people and detect the virus at an early stage. Kiran Dighavkar, assistant commissioner of the G North administrative ward, with jurisdiction over Dharavi revealed these details to the Hindustan Times.
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Dighavkar stated to the Hindustan Times “We are giving the Philippines government information on how we conducted fever camps in Dharavi, and carried out contact tracing, and organised institutional quarantining.” Municipal corporations of cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolhapur also called him for similar information. Iqbal Singh Chahal also revealed “BMC’s Chase the Virus Policy has shown the world the way to fight Covid-19, but BMC is not complacent. We will not lower our guard.” Now that the Philippines government shall follow India’s Dharavi model of right coronavirus, its indeed a matter of pride that Asia’s largest slum could contain the virus successfully with able measures put into place. Meanwhile, do check out this inspirational story of a Mumbai staff nurse who tested positive for coronavirus.