The islands of river Brahmaputra popularly known as chars or Sapori are among the most backward areas of the state, nearly six per cent of Assam’s land is covered by these islands and a total of ten percent population of the state i.e. more than 30 lacs populace resides in those islands. These areas are frequently devastated by flood as results of the health status of the people living in those areas is badly affected. There are more than 2000 villages in these char areas, whereas a few health facilities with little or no manpower, which are not sufficient enough to cover the entire population.

Health workers of the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research (C-NES) of all the 15 boat clinics across Assam have been issuing a three-pronged attack against COVID-19 to all the river island dwellers of the state.

Apart from providing preliminary check-ups, they are also spreading awareness over COVID-19. The workers are also acting as a bridge to help the people get the necessary food items in an otherwise ‘handicapped’ society.

Most of the island-dwellers across Assam are daily-wage workers whose income has completely stopped because of the lockdown. On April 8, 13 youths with recent travel history were identified in the different river villages under Srijangram and Boitamari of boat clinic operating areas in Bongaigaon district. The vast majority of these island dwellers move out of their homes during non-cultivation months to work as daily wagers in other districts and towns.

The men who just returned from Ledo in upper Assam’s Tinsukia district and some from Nepal were given a check-up and were asked to be home quarantined for two weeks. Although they did not show any COVID-19 symptoms, they were asked to maintain social distancing. The villagers were also asked not to get influenced by (social media) rumours and to remain vigilant.

When a C-NES health team visited them, they were shocked to see that many of the families did not even have the essential and basic food commodities. However, on April 9, due to a quick response by the circle officer of Tapattari division, they were able to supply some grocery items, which included rice, pulses and oil, among others.

The C-NES is also providing various information to these secluded island regions including various tea gardens via the community radio station, Radio Brahmaputra. In times of crisis, a simple rumour is all that is required to create pandemonium.

The centre has been disseminating reliable and verified information to its nearly 200,000 listeners daily in five languages

The main threats to these islands is from frequent floods which play a role of the devastation of the communities residing in these islands, thus causing a major concern to the health status of the communities. Construction of permanent infrastructure and health facilities is one of the major challenges in these islands due to the recurring floods. The situation is even worsened by the fact that the people residing in these areas change their base every six months either due to erosion of the land or in search of livelihood generation. Keeping the challenge of defending the health indicators, the Govt initiated boat clinic service in the year, 2008 for the communities residing in these islands.

NHM already providing health services to the communities residing in the remote river islands (Char/Saporis) of the River Brahmaputra in 13 (Thirteen) Districts of the State with 15 (Fifteen) Boat Clinic units. Fifteen (15) Boat Clinic units are operational at Dhubri, Barpeta, Nalbari, Morigaon, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Jorhat, Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Kamrup District and one each additional units in Dhubri and Barpeta District. Boat clinics provided the health services including Reproductive and Child Care, Curative Care, Family Planning Services, Basic Laboratory Services etc.

Inputs from eastmojo.com