More than 1 lakh people were screened in a COVID-19 screening camp held in Pune from 27th April to 22 May. People of any background interested to volunteer were called to participate; in the end we had around 1,500 volunteers.
Each volunteer had to stay for 7 days in which 3 days are for screening 4 days are for quarantine.
Garware College Hostel was used for the volunteers to stay. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were provided by the management. On the last day samples are taken from each volunteer for COVID-19 testing.
In the first 3 days they were segregated into teams. Each team consisted of 3 people: 1 doctor and 2 volunteers. The doctor asked for any symptoms and took temperature; one volunteer gave out homeopathic medicine to increase immunity, and the other volunteer took down information on family and any suspected cases.
Every day an ambulance picked the volunteers from the camp. A location near containment zone would already be setup for donning the PPE kits and then the teams go door to door for screening of patients.
Mainly it was a initiative of RSS Jankalyan Samiti and its branch NGO from which many volunteers came. Sevankur, ABVP and many more NGOs supplied volunteers for the cause.
The experience was one which will not be forgotten easily. The management was perfect without any glitches and the atmosphere was so motivating for all the volunteers. Each and every person including me felt that the work we are doing is not of personal importance but of national importance and everyone were giving their best for the betterment of the citizens of the country. In all, it was a once in a life time experience.
