“1030am sharp - outside the municipal office” read the message the night before. A casually dressed man greeted me that morning, ushering me into the ambulance. We were a team of five - two doctors, one medicine dispenser and two support staff. We drove a few minutes to the screening camp location, which changes each day. Two local residents of the ‘chawl’ (ultra dense housing units of lower middle SEC), and two ASHA workers (government social health activists - always women) awaited our arrival.
The other doctor and I opened the sealed boxes given to us, donning the layers of PPE clothing provided. Whilst doing so, the team set up an effective assembly line behind us, like a well oiled machine. On my table in front of me was placed a large cardboard box - filled with various tablets and medicines, to treat any minor symptoms and complaints. It comprised pain relief, broad spectrum antibiotics, antidiarrheals, indigestion therapy and some decongestants. Obviously missing was cough syrup, however it did have a few strips of Hydroxychloroquine.