Mumbai: Dharavi's COVID success story sets an example for the world in fight against Coronavirus

Dharavi in Mumbai also regarded as Asia's biggest slum, has set an example for the whole world struggling to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The slum area which was once known as coronavirus hotspot has now shown signs of flattening of the curve.

About 51% of Dharavi residents who test positive eventually recovered, better than Mumbai's 41% rate. Fresh infections are down to an average 20 a day from 60 in early May. India, meanwhile, added more than 11,000 cases on June 13. As per official data, the curve of COVID-19 positive cases in Dharavi slum has started showing a declining trend. 

Assistant Municipal Commissioner of BMC Kiran Dighavkar who is also in charge of Dharavi's Mission Corona said,"The aggressive screening in Dharavi area has helped in lowering the positive cases.". He said, nearly 6 to 7 lakh people have been screened home to home by BMC health workers, private clinic doctors, mobile van, Municipal dispensary, etc."

He further added,"We worked on the formula of screen maximum people for fever, oxygen level and other symptoms and isolate them and test them proactively."

"It was next to impossible to follow social distancing," said Kiran Dighavkar. "The only option then was to 'chase the virus' rather than wait for the cases to come. To work proactively, rather than reactively."

A strict lockdown and accessible testing was part of Dharavi's strategy.