COVID-19: Our response in The Gambia
The challenges in The Gambia
Many people in the 1.9 million-strong country have limited access to healthcare. The health sector is also experiencing a shortage of healthcare professionals and facilities throughout the country, particularly in rural areas.
There is limited funding to support the rural communities where we work with the provision of hygiene and sanitation supplies and to raise their awareness on the risks posed by COVID-19.
The number of active cases in the country has jumped from less ten two weeks ago to 920 active cases as at 22/07/21.
From 19th to 21st July, 172 people tested positive and these are people who are mostly sick or about to travel out of the country. 11 deaths were recorded during the period.
The government had made it mandatory for all commercial vehicles to put on masks, observe social distancing, hand washing etc. UP staff are also being encouraged to adhere to these measures.
What United Purpose is doing...
We are using our strong community networks to reach the rural population with information about COVID-19. Some examples include:
Above: In The Gambia, we are able to reach the vast majority of the rural population through our networks in the regions and provinces to positively influence the situation.
Using our project WhatsApp groups to disseminate health messages to key leaders in our projects and partner groups
Printing and disseminating posters with WHO/government-approved messages in multiple languages to all national partners
Conducting hygiene demonstrations, distributing masks and providing handwashing containers and soap to households via the 300 Mother Clubs established through our major nutrition project
We will also be holding radio phone-in shows in rural areas with regional health authorities and religious leaders to clarify issues/rumours.
Village to village awareness raising through loudspeakers /songs. Platforming radio broadcasts of the sunny neji song and discussions on myth busting, stigmatisation, sanctions for not adhering to government regulations.
We are on the national response subcommittees such as the Health and the Social Protection subcommittee.
We have provided hand washing materials and sanitisers to 20 remote communities and shared radio broadcasts on prevention measures to the communities we work in.
We have rehabilitated and treated broken wells in 80 communities across the country. This activity has made clean water available to the communities enabling regular hand washing and hygiene.
We have provided support to 25 schools with hygiene materials.