As debate still rages about the right way to allow re-entry of domestic help into homes with the easing of lockdown, some highrise complexes have introduced medical screening to inspire confidence among residents.

The first complex to hold a health camp for their domestic help and facility management staff was Greenwood Sonata. The camp was held over two days — May 24 and 26. “We spread the camp out over two days to ensure social distancing. They were given a general briefing on Covid-19 and were asked to contact us for any symptoms in them or in the houses they work in. It gave them confidence to interact with us,” said Sudipta Mukherjee, president of Greenwood Sonata Apartment Owners’ Association. A total of 156 people got themselves tested, including 31 facility management staff.

The association created a profile of each individual and the data was shared with their employer. “It has their address which would help us monitor whether their locality is becoming a containment zone, their contact number and medical history. They were asked whether they had developed any influenza-like symptoms in the last few months. Those who reported having diabetes or thyroid problems got their blood samples collected for tests.” The tab for the check-up was picked up by the individual employers in case of the domestic help and by the association for the facility staff.

Health camps being conducted at Greenwood Sonata and (right) at DLF New Town Heights

The association has offered to take care of the follow-up treatment too in this period. “Only the cost of medicines will have to be borne by the person or his or her employer,” Mukherjee added.

Greenwood Sonata is also considering building a medicine bank for common ailments to help the staff on a case-to-case basis. “They should feel there is an umbrella over their head.”

At DLF New Town Heights, a nine-hour health camp took place on Sunday. “We got the idea from Greenwood Sonata,” said Sameer Sharma, secretary of New Town Heights Apartment Owners’ Association. “Our residents were very happy to get this chance to ensure well-being of their staff,” he added.

“They said 46 would come, but 99 turned up,” smiled Bibekananda Panda, a general physician whose diagnostic centre organised both the camps in association with a residents’ body called New Town Forum & News. “Since I was not expecting a high turn-out, I did not take a second doctor along to assist me. Along with my laboratory technicians, I was up to my neck with the workload,” he added.

But the number is not that high in a complex with 450 apartments occupied. “The other families are still not convinced about entry of domestic help. We are allowing three days’ entry in houses of working couples and five days a week for senior citizens’ houses,” said Sharma.

At Greenwood Sonata, a detailed standard operating procedure has been handed to each apartment owner and tenant. Till June 15, part-time maid service has been allowed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while full-time caregivers for senior citizens are allowed from Monday to Friday.

The camps were welcomed by the domestic help. “Many could not get access to health check-up amid the lockdown. At Greenwood Sonata, a woman had cough and cold. I asked her to stay home and report to me daily over phone about her well-being. Thankfully she recovered in a week. At DLF, too, a house-keeping staffer has been asked to stay home for 10 days,” said Panda.

A Covid-19 awareness session was held in Sankalpa 3 on May 24. “Our housekeeping, security and gardening staff are the backbone of our complex. We wanted to make them understand about the disease — how to protect themselves, how to dispose medical waste in the eventuality of a resident testing positive and isolating at home… This way they would feel confident about continuing work,” said Amitava Chakraborty, a general surgeon and a resident, who conducted the session.

saltlake@abpmail.com