After a few days of swelling in her leg, Rebati developed a fever and weakness all over her body. “I was feverish and very weak. I could not move at all.” she said. When Calcutta Rescue Community Health Worker (CHW) went for a daily visit, she found that Rebati was showing Covid symptoms. She was immediately urged to take a Covid test. When the result came back it showed that Rebati had Covid-19. She had not been vaccinated.
Calcutta Rescue acted immediately, providing her with medicine and a pulse oximeter to measure her oxygen level. Every day the CHW went to her home and checked the oxygen level which she relayed back to the CR medical team. CR doctors started video calling and guiding her on proning (lying on her front which assists breathing for Covid patients) and motivational support.
But the most challenging thing was to keep her in isolation. Slum areas are over-populated and cramped with most families living in tiny one-roomed matchbox shacks. Despite this Rebati was able to isolate to some extent, by staying on the other side of the room from her daughter who prepared her food.
After a week of treatment, she started improving. Her oxygen level is now above 96 and, after 14 days of isolation, Rebati is now feeling well well again.
Jaydeep, CR’s Chief Executive recently visited Rebati and she told him: “Calcutta Rescue has helped me a lot. Without their help I could not have recovered so well.”
