Jahanara Ansari is a Community Correspondent and activist from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. She holds a Master's in Social Work and has extensive experience in working on women's issues and health. She has also been an ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) trainer. At Video Volunteers, she is associated with the Khel Badal project to dismantle patriarchy, supported by UNFPA, under which she makes videos on…

Jahanara Ansari

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Ambulance drivers, alongside ASHA workers, are one of the frontline healthcare workers in India. Yet they do not have basic safety equipment to protect themselves against COVID-19 infection.

"We help with carrying the COVID-19 patients from their house to the ambulance vehicle," said Vakeel Razak, one of the ambulance drivers our Community Correspondent Jahanara Ansari spoke to. Yet there is no mask or PPE kit that has been issued to them.

"We are always ready, 24X7 and we won't hesitate to work for humanity," said Ganga Singh, one of the other ambulance drivers. They haven't received any PPE kits or any other facilities (like insurance) from the government's side, driver Razak tells Jahanara.

Many frontline health workers including doctors have lost their lives in the battle of COVID-19 in India.