Mumbai: It was almost two months ago when Mumbai's Dharavi known as Asia's largest slum, with a population of over seven lakh reported its first case of COVID-19 and experts warned that the densely populated region could be a major hotspot not just in the city, but also the country. The experts were right as cases increased manifold within just a few weeks but cut to the present day, the virus curve appears to be flattening.
From being the biggest coronavirus hotspot to becoming a model for crowded cities and developing nations struggling to contain the pandemic, continent's largest slum which fought against all odds to contain the spread of the disease has a lesson for many.
The figures coming in show a rapid decline in the number of coronavirus cases, as the slum reported 10-15 fresh cases in the last week which earlier stood at 100-150 in a week.
At a time when the development seemed impossible, Mumbai's civic body Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's 'chase the virus' approach has managed to turn things around a bit.
The civic body's 'Mission Dharavi' which was launched days after the first coronavirus case was reported in the area, has begun to show promising results, just a few days ago.
"Being a densely-packed area, social distancing was not possible. So, we ramped up testing and strict lockdown guidelines were put in place," Kiran Dighavkar, Assistant Commissioner, North Division and the official who has been leading the fight in Dharavi from the front.
"The municipality's door-to-door inspection of millions of residents and sterilization and effective quarantine in settlements over an area of more than two km have made it possible to contain the COVID-19 spread in Dharavi. Therefore, Mission Dharavi is succeeding," said Dighavkar.
A special team of 200 doctors, 300 nurses, 40 engineers, 300 employees and 3600 workers is working round the clock to bring down the cases to zero and make Mission Dharavi a success.
The municipal team is conducting house-to-house screening of suspected patients, moving them to hospitals if found positive, quarantining their contacts, setting up beds in quarantine centres, disinfecting areas. Apart from this, ready meals, groceries and medicines have been provided to the people of the declared containment zone in Dharavi.
So far, more than three lakh ready-made meal packets and 20,000 packets of groceries have been distributed, including two meals a day.
"Initially the rate of COVID-19 patient was doubling in 13 days. Gradually, it went on for 16 and then 20 days. The rate has now gone to 32 days. The overall, in Dharavi, is improving and the goal is to have zero patients, that is coronavirus-free," said Dighavkar.
As per reports, so far 1.5 lakh people have undergone primary medical examination. Of these, 2070 have tested positive for the virus. Early testing and timely detection have made it possible to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
Under the mission, so far more than 82,000 people have been quarantined in their homes and quarantine centres and there are a total of 4500 quarantine centres in Dharavi and 2070 corona patients are undergoing treatment. So far, 70 people have succumbed to the infection.
Authorities have knocked 47,500 doors to measure temperature and oxygen level, screened almost 700,000 people in the slum cluster and set up fever clinics.
Local MLA Varsha Gaikwad said, "A quarantine centre with more than four thousand beds has been set up in Dharavi. The centre, set up at the Rajiv Gandhi Sports Complex, quarantines those who test positive. The patient is then sent home after 14 days of quarantine if he/she shows no symptoms. When people are quarantined at home, quarantine rules are not strictly followed.
"So now, the emphasis is on institutional quarantine instead of home quarantine. Therefore, there are fewer patients in Dharavi at present and the municipality is working to achieve the aim," the MLA added.
A few days ago, a large number of patients suffering from coronavirus were found in Dharavi. However, it has slowed down since last week.
Rajesh Solkar, a resident of Dharavi, said that if the same rules are followed in the coming time, Dharavi will be free from Corona.
As Dharavi saw no respite from the ruthlessly ascending curve of COVID-19, the well planned Mission Dharavi came to the rescue of residents. The planning of the administration has helped in bringing down the number of positive cases in which awareness and chasing the virus has a pivotal role.
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