COVID-19: India to launch customized crash course for frontline workers

As India continues to combat the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Modi government has announced a customised crash course programme for frontline workers with the aim of providing them with necessary training ahead of a potential third wave in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the crash course program on June 18 that aims to train more than 1 lakh COVID-19 frontline workers and enhance their skills and expertise.

Initially, the program will be conducted at 111 training centers across 26 states in the country. As per a statement issued by the prime minister’s office, the frontline workers will be given training in six customized job roles, including Medical Equipment Support, Home CareSupport, Sample Collection Support, Basic Care Support, Advanced Care Support, and Emergency Care Support.

The crash course has been designed in line with the union government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the capabilities of skilled non-medical healthcare workers such that they are able to support the country’s health sector in managing the pandemic.

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“The program will create skilled non-medical healthcare workers to fill the present and future needs of manpower in the health sector,” the statement added.

The specialised programme has been developed under the government’s umbrella scheme of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 3.0.

Last year, the government launched a training module for effective management of the COVID-19 pandemic under the ‘Integrated Govt. Online training’ (iGOT) portal. On the DIKSHA platform of the Ministry of Human and Resource Development (MHRD), the module contained a number of specialized courses for doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, technicians, government officials, civil defense officers, and other targeted frontline groups to enhance their ability to proactively handle the pandemic.

In addition, a number of local authorities have started training programs for healthcare workers and frontliners with the aim to refine their efforts to tackle the pandemic crisis. Recently, a 21-day COVID-19 frontline workers’ course was kicked off in Punjab’s Kapurthala district to impart training related to healthcare services to youths.

Meanwhile, India has administered more than 26-crore COVID-19 vaccine doses across the country. According to the latest data issued by the health ministry, the number includes 1,00,78,623 healthcare workers who received their first dose, along with 69,99,669 healthcare workers who have taken their second dose. Furthermore, a total of 1,69,05,708 frontline workers have received their first vaccine dose and 89,06,072 frontliners have taken the second dose.

As per the Health Ministry, frontline workers (besides healthcare workers) include police, civil defence, paramilitary personnel, home guards’ personnel, municipal workers, fire safety personnel, disaster management professionals among other key groups.