GlobeMed: GWED-G distributes Hand Sanitizer to Combat COVID-19
In partnership with GlobeMed from Columbia University, GWED-G is making strengthening its comprehensive commitment to our community structures (i.e., Role Model Men (RMM) and Village Health Teams (VHTs)) throughout Lamogi sub-county in Amuru District. The RMM and VHTs are on the frontlines to support their own villages during this COVID-19 pandemic that has seriously impacted Uganda, namely through restrictions.
To secure our community structures’ safety and that of their communities, GWED-G distributed hand sanitizer to all our RMM and VHTs to mitigate the spread of the virus, to enable them to safely carry out their important community work. In Amuru District, access to health care remains very limited, and has been further constrained by COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the government. Also, there is a high number of truck drivers crossing the region to and from South Sudan, increasing the risk of COVID-19 spread.
While the RMM are used to work mainly on issues of prevention of and response to Sexual and Gender Based Violence and the promotion of Gender Equality, VHTs are community health workers who deliver community-based primary health care. During this crisis, GWED-G is supporting our VHTs to educate communities and sensitize households about COVID-19 prevention within their villages.
Over the last two weeks, VHTs have been constructing handwashing stations (i.e., tippy taps) at key communal locations and at people’s homes. Tippy taps are constructed using locally sourced and more readily available materials like tree branches, rope, and recycled jerry cans with the goal of supplying a solution to households with no running water.
Through these actions, we hope to support rural communities in dire need of sanitation supplies and solutions to continue keeping staff and patients with safe and clean hands – especially in light of small increases in coronavirus transmission throughout Uganda. Amuru is a particularly vulnerable area considering the border points and trade traffic that flows through the district.
Thanks to our friends and funders, GlobeMed, for supporting this important initiative to keep northern communities safe.
