A £1.50 donation could help spare homeless a deadly dose of Coronavirus
Date published: 16 April 2020
Homeless charity plea: Dr Zahid Chauhan OBE
Rough sleepers with an average life expectancy of just 45 could be kept alive if the public were to donate as little as £1.50 each.
That is the message from an Oldham charity who are in a desperate race against time to create protective kits for the homeless during the Coronavirus crisis.
Packed full of hand sanitisers, masks, tissues and plasters, the life-saving hygiene equipment is being collated by Homeless-Friendly, who were initially set up to ensure those of no fixed abode were able to see a GP.
But in order to reach their first batch of intended patients, they still need to raise cash – and donations are a small price to pay to save lives, says founder Dr Zahid Chauhan OBE.
“Living in close proximity, with low immune systems and poor hygiene and nutrition, homeless people are remarkably prone to viruses,” said Dr Chauhan.
“We have so far been overwhelmed by the kindness of residents and businesses and have had 200 bottles of sanitiser donated to us, for example.
"I genuinely believe we are just a stone’s throw from saving hundreds of the most vulnerable lives in our region so let us all dig deep.”
Dr Chauhan was dismissive of claims that Coronavirus affected everyone equally – rich and poor, prince and pauper.
“This is a fallacy," he added.
"While of course we are aware of the prime minister contracting the condition, COVID-19 has disproportionally affected the vulnerable most, and they don’t come frailer than the homeless.
"As a GP on the front line of caring for patients with the virus, I have seen what a mess the Government has made of providing personal protective equipment for the NHS and social carers.
"If they won’t do even that, then heaven help the homeless.
"We cannot just stand by and leave them unprotected.
"We must do our bit.”
So concerned is Dr Chauhan, that he has personally written to Boris Johnson to urge him to fund a nationwide programme of hygiene kits and screening for the homeless.
Since its formation in 2018, Homeless-Friendly has successfully encouraged doctors’ surgeries, A&E departments, hospices, charities, businesses and even Oldham Athletic FC to become hubs of homeless help.
The networks they have built up put them in an ideal place to distribute the kits safely and successfully – ensuring that items such as hand sanitising fluid is used correctly.
“I am so proud that our charity has acted as a conduit between rough sleepers and local authorities, the NHS and Government," said Dr Chauhan.
"We respond to their need and their need right now is to ensure they have some protection against this virulent virus and indeed to allay their fears around contracting it.
"By intervening and supporting the homeless, we have a unique opportunity to show them that they matter to us and are valued members of our community.”
To make your donation, telephone: 0161 371 6165 or email: gail.sutcliffe1@nhs.net
Learn more about Homeless-Friendly at: http://www.homelessfriendly.co.uk/
Dr Zahid Chauhan is a national campaigner for health equalities and the founder of the Homeless-Friendly health programme for rough sleepers and those experiencing homelessness.
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