'Testing is key': WHO chief Tedros acknowledges Dharavi's success over coronavirus

In a major boost to the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Maharashtra government's morale, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday lauded the efforts put in to break the chain of the novel coronavirus pandemic in the "densely packed area in the megacity of Mumbai", Dharavi - Asia's largest slum.

The achievements made in the Dharavi

WHO Director-General Tedros A Ghebreyesus, at a press conference, referred to the achievements made in the Dharavi, among other similar examples globally.

"Even in Dharavi, a densely packed area in Mumbai, a strong focus on community engagement and the basics of testing, tracing, isolating and treating all those that are sick is key to breaking the chains of transmission, and suppressing the virus," Ghebreyesus said.

In this context, he pointed out that there are many, many examples from around the world that have shown that even if the Covid-19 outbreak is very intense, it can still be brought back under control, as in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, New Zealand, Italy, Spain and South Korea.

"In the last six weeks cases have more than doubled," Tedros told a virtual press conference in Geneva. However, "there are many examples from around the world that have shown that even if the outbreak is very intense, it can still be brought back under control," Tedros said.

Responding to The WHO's comment, the BMC said: "Thank You, WHO for acknowledging #Mission Dharavi where it partnered with citizens to 'Chase the Virus' from one of the most populous blocks of the city".

"With your guidelines and Mumbai's community efforts, we will beat Covid-19 one block at a time by Tracing, Tracking, Testing and Treating," the BMC's return tweet said.

Ghebreyesus also stressed the need for community participation and collective solidarity - akin to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's appeal two days ago for forming Corona Vigilance Committees right down to the village levels, and asking NGOs to adopt Mumbai slums with public partnership to beat the Coronavirus.

However, the BMC has faced several challenges in Dharavi where 80 per cent of the population depends on community toilets.

Worked very hard from day one: Rajesh Tope

Reacting to the WHO DG's comments, Health Minister Rajesh Tope admitted that "we have worked very hard from day one along with the people of Dharavi" and even in Malegaon, Nashik, and now the results are showing in both places.

"It was an aggressive fight, surveillance of the population, early detection of symptoms, isolation in government quarantine centres in a huge way, all precautions like fogging the area regularly, disinfecting public toilets repeatedly daily, starting fever clinics, providing portable chest x-ray machines, temperature guns, etc, even in Malegaon," Tope told new agency IANS.

He said that in both places, "we have managed to flatten the curve, we don't expect it to worsen any further, but we also can't take chances so will continue to remain vigilant".

Education Minister and MLA from Dharavi Varsha Gaikwad said she was "proud of all Dharavians.. as today they have set an example for the world.

"WHO has recognized and praised our efforts against this war (vis-A-vis) Corona... Let's keep up the good work and we will fight in the strongest way," a thrilled Gaikwad tweeted.

The WHO head also cautioned that from countries where there is exponential growth to places that are loosening restrictions, are "now starting to see cases rise".

For this, Ghebreyesus assured that WHO will continue to work with partners to ensure that the poorest and most marginalized are prioritized.

"That means restarting routine immunization and ensuring that medical supplies reach health workers across the worlda Only aggressive action combined with national unity and global solidarity can turn the Covid-19 pandemic around," Ghebreyesus asserted.

After the success in Dharavi -- chronicled in a series of reports by IANS over the past three months -- the model is being replicated in north Mumbai where there has been a huge spike in recent weeks with a public-private-partnership.

However, both Maharashtra and Mumbai have a long way to go yet as the state has 9,893 deaths and 238,461 cases while Mumbai stands at 5,205 fatalities and 90,461 cases till date.

(With agency inputs)