On World Day for Safety and Health at Work, JICA commits to establish a stronger healthcare system at workplaces
New Delhi: World Day for Safety and Health at Work is focused on Investment in Resilient Occupational Safety and Health Systems. The purpose of this day is to garner international attention on emerging trends in the field of occupational safety and health including work-related injuries, diseases, and fatalities worldwide. Emerging as a global crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic has had profound impacts everywhere. The pandemic has touched nearly every corner of the world of work, risk of transmission of the virus in workplaces, occupational safety and health (OSH) risks that have emerged as a result of measures to mitigate spreading of the virus. Adequate safety and health measures at work place can play a crucial role in containing spread of the disease, while protecting workers and society at large.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been striving to support and improve the safety and healthcare facilities in India including the workplaces of each project site. During the lock down period announced in 2020 by the Government of India, JICA assisted the workers of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) on the Standard operating procedures (SOP) and guidelines for COVID-19-outbreak. CMRL provided the workers with 24X7 ambulance facility, de-sanitization at frequent intervals, Personal protective equipment -nose mask, soaps and sanitizers at various key entry/exit points and infrared thermometer for thermal scanning on a daily basis. Further, the CMRL resumed the construction of Phase-1 extension by taking all precautions such as online training for the infection and control monitoring for COVID-19, implementation of Aaroyga Setu App by staff and workers, wearing face mask on a mandatory basis among other precautions
Speaking on the occasion of World Health Day, Mr. MATSUMOTO Katsuo, Chief Representative, JICA India, said, Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, actions for infection prevention and control and occupational safety and health become absolutely crucial. Organisations must take urgent measures to strengthen the country’s capacities to protect occupational health and safety of all workers. Remote working arrangements need to make sure that the employees are able to retain balance between work and other responsibilities. JICA recognises the gravity of the current situation and extends support to establish resilient occupational safety and health systems in India.
Further, to prevent spread of the virus and other infectious diseases, JICA has also initiated “Achhi Aadat Campaign” to sensitize people for appropriate handwashing by using comic leaflet and video, while several Japanese private companies contributed for material supplies. Achhi Aadat is a campaign of JICA India to raise awareness among 10 crore people of hygiene practice for preventing the spread of Covid-19 and other infectious diseases.