The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in the escalation of a global crisis. Fragmented responses to the pandemic and growing concerns of an ill-equipped healthcare system have disrupted countless livelihoods. The circumstances present a host of economic hardships, among which include lost wages due to closed businesses and predictions of a recession. Fundamentally, the current climate has revealed the deeper, systemic inequities in society. When considering a situation in which healthcare access changes for everyone, who is able to receive timely care? In countries like India, where a majority of the labor force is part of the informal economy, earning day-to-day, how are communities affected by issues like food insecurity, state violence, and infrastructure challenges when dealing with a pandemic?
As we encounter a shifting healthcare setting working to aid people with different needs, the research questions we ask and methods we use will have to change (i.e.: transition to virtual interviews). As a team, we will be collaborating with our NGO partners to continue building an app that can be updated and provide resources in novel situations, with the emphasis on adaptability and resilience during these times.