SENSITIZING COMMUNITY LEADERS TO PREVENT AND PREPARE FOR COVID-19
The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted the day-to-day lives of people all over the world.
Nandi County Department of Health and DSW are working together on reproductive health and COVID-19 prevention and preparedness in the County. A critical part of COVID-19 prevention and preparedness is sensitising communities to ensure that there is social behavioural change in hygiene practices, social distancing and people can distinguish between fact and fiction on the COVID-19. That way, children, women and all communities can better prepare for the threat imposed by the disease.
In light of this, the Department of Health organized key stakeholder sensitization meetings in Aldai and Emgwen Sub Counties on COVID-19. The overall objective of the meetings was to discuss and agree on effective ways of disseminating COVID-19 prevention and reproductive health messages. The key stakeholders who attended the meeting comprised of chiefs, civil society, traditional authorities, religious leaders, youth and women leaders.
Nandi County Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Chairperson Sarah Kosgei emphasised the need to develop new ways of recognizing the role of grassroot communities and to amplify bottom-up processes in decision-making. She said the fundamental role of community leaders had been demonstrated during the pandemic and they have become indispensable partners in the humanitarian space both in urban and rural areas.
“The pandemic has triggered an unprecedented crisis that is much more than a health crisis,” said Nandi County Youth Bunge President Nicholas Kibet.