"This grim situation is escalating rapidly and it will take a mammoth global effort to help the people of India get COVID-19 back under control," he said ."The pandemic will continue to have social and economic aftershocks, which will be felt for a long time to come. WV India is networking with the Government to ensure vulnerable communities can access the healthcare they so desperately need. We're working hard in communities to ensure that people have safe, fast and equitable access to the vaccine, working closely with district administrations to support the Government's efforts to reach more people."
Mr Wordsworth welcomed an initial medical support package announced by Australia's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, saying India had been a generous global partner in the fight against COVID-19, gifting vaccines to Fiji and Nauru.
"It is appropriate that we offer this initial package and continue support India through this crisis," he said. He said the devastating second wave showed that vulnerable communities are most at risk during the COVID pandemic – the very communities World Vision works in. The organisation was profoundly concerned about the well-being of children.
"Two WV India staff have died in the last 10 days-no one is untouched by this pandemic," he said.
"About 100 staff members have also been infected, and some have lost family members to COVID-19. Three more staff are in a critical condition in hospitals. This is a huge issue for staff wellbeing and their ability to work in this much-needed response."
He said the greatest needs in the country were hospital beds and oxygen, and World Vision would respond for a long time to come.
"There's the response and then the recovery, and we will be heavily involved in the recovery phase for these communities," he said. "We are still carrying out programs where work can be done virtually."
"It is imperative that people follow the government's advice and the prevention messages aligning with vaccine advocacy that World Vision India has also been sharing in order to reduce transmission," he said. "But the reality of crowded cities and mobility of people without Government-mandated precautions and the emergence of the new strains has made the control efforts harder and there is a risk of losing some important gains India has made in the fight against COVID-19."
