Only 33 countries have an emergency preparedness and response plan in place that includes considerations for vulnerable populations.

Why this area?:

The COVID-19 global pandemic has shown us that we are unprepared, and are often more reactive than proactive. Pandemics, health emergencies, and weak health systems don’t just cost lives, but also represent some of the greatest risks to the global economy and security that we face today. Which is  why we need a  strong global response.

With our national and sub-national partners, we ensure that systems are built and finances are located and secured towards improving global health security - particularly, preparedness.

What we have done:

Some of our work includes early warning systems for COVID surveillance and COVID response. The COVID-19 crisis, however, wasn’t our first; in 2004, when the tsunami hit the Indian shores, we were part of building a state-level information system that ensured all affected individuals and communities were taken care of.

Leveraging our past experience, which included helping draft disaster management response, Swasti co-incubated the #COVIDActionCollab (CAC), an all-India collaborative, united to provide relief, recovery, and build resilience among the most vulnerable communities. CAC is a 326+ partners-strong collaborative that has delivered 17 lakh services with over 2,000 volunteers.

Learn more at www.covidactioncollab.org