Social mobilization and Community engagement to fight Covid-19
Estelle de Bruyn
Only when people understand Covid-19 and the danger it poses in communities, will people adhere to the strict regulations announced by Government and change their behaviour where needed.
This was the message of the public relations officer of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Petra Ipinge, who participated in the daily panel discussion on the Covid-19 broadcast on NBC on Monday.
This was the message of the public relations officer of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Petra Ipinge, who participated in the daily panel discussion on the Covid-19 broadcast on NBC on Monday.
Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Esther Muinjangue, who was part of the panel, explained that social mobilization and community engagement is a dynamic process involving different stakeholders to collaborate in bringing about community preparedness and establishing awareness about Covid-19.
“Covid-19 is new and we don’t know all the facts. It is an enemy in our communities and therefore it is important to engage communities to fight this enemy. It affects everyone,” she said.
The social mobilization and community engagement project focusses on dissemination information on the signs and symptoms of the disease; modes of transmission and how to prevent the spread of the scourge.
“Fear and anxiety is rampant. This can only be mitigated by empowering the community and the only way to do that is by providing transparent and accurate information,” Muinjangue said.
She warned about false information and fake news regarding Covid-19 doing the rounds.
Muinjangue also expressed concern about too many people still wandering around in the streets, especially in informal settlements.
“It seems as if people still don’t realise the power of social distancing. Working from home does not mean a holiday and that people are free to move around at will,” she emphasised.
Sergeant Katrina Nomboga of the Namibian Police said local police are now using the networks established during community policing to combat Covid-19. Previously community policing aimed at involving communities in preventing and reporting crime. Now community policing is employed to spread the message about Covid-19 prevention and the imperative of staying at home.
“Policing is no longer the sole responsibility of the men and women in uniform, but of all communities,” Nomboga said.
She expressed concern that when taxis with passengers are stopped, commuters all produce empty pill bottles and offer the excuse that are only out and about to collect medication, while really they are moving around for purely social purposes in contravention of regulations.
“Covid-19 is new and we don’t know all the facts. It is an enemy in our communities and therefore it is important to engage communities to fight this enemy. It affects everyone,” she said.
The social mobilization and community engagement project focusses on dissemination information on the signs and symptoms of the disease; modes of transmission and how to prevent the spread of the scourge.
“Fear and anxiety is rampant. This can only be mitigated by empowering the community and the only way to do that is by providing transparent and accurate information,” Muinjangue said.
She warned about false information and fake news regarding Covid-19 doing the rounds.
Muinjangue also expressed concern about too many people still wandering around in the streets, especially in informal settlements.
“It seems as if people still don’t realise the power of social distancing. Working from home does not mean a holiday and that people are free to move around at will,” she emphasised.
Sergeant Katrina Nomboga of the Namibian Police said local police are now using the networks established during community policing to combat Covid-19. Previously community policing aimed at involving communities in preventing and reporting crime. Now community policing is employed to spread the message about Covid-19 prevention and the imperative of staying at home.
“Policing is no longer the sole responsibility of the men and women in uniform, but of all communities,” Nomboga said.
She expressed concern that when taxis with passengers are stopped, commuters all produce empty pill bottles and offer the excuse that are only out and about to collect medication, while really they are moving around for purely social purposes in contravention of regulations.
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