HiH Zim in fight against Covid-19

News
As part of its Covid-19 response, Hand in Hand Zimbabwe (HiHZim) has started rolling out a number of coronavirus humanitarian activities, which include distribution of food hampers, awareness material, personal protective equipment (PPEs) and disinfectants to front line staff and other essential service providers in the seven national districts it operates in.

By style correspondent

As part of its Covid-19 response, Hand in Hand Zimbabwe (HiHZim) has started rolling out a number of coronavirus humanitarian activities, which include distribution of food hampers, awareness material, personal protective equipment (PPEs) and disinfectants to front line staff and other essential service providers in the seven national districts it operates in.

The interventions are set to benefit more than 300 000 community members in 82 wards, 35 rural health centres and 35 local partners in Bulilima, Chikomba, Chirumanzu, Gwanda, Lupane, Nkayi and Shurugwi district.

Distributions of the food hampers and other material is being done under special arrangements in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) safety guidelines.

Part of Hand in Hand Zimbabwe interventions also include information dissemination in local languages to create and raise awareness on Covid-19. Posters, brochures and flyers on Covid-19 risk awareness are being distributed in all the seven districts.

Hand in Hand Zimbabwe CEO Felix Tete said the organisation has put up strategies which will be implemented over a three-month period to support the government in mitigating adverse effects of Covid-19.

“The health crisis in Zimbabwe calls in for civil society organisations, including those working with the rural communities to support government in raising awareness and putting up responsive measures in preventing the spread of Covid-19,” Tete said.

“With the Covid-19 pandemic and economic slowdown threatening the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable rural communities, we have come up with strategies that include information dissemination/distribution material and distribution of PPE to health centres and health professionals.

Tete said the organisation was assisting vulnerable families with food hampers after having noted that, the Covid-19 pandemic may push rural families even deeper into poverty, hunger and desperation.

“With movement restricted to contain further spread of the virus in the country, many of our entrepreneurs are unable to access markets to sell produce or to buy inputs thus putting a strain on household food security and income generation,” he said.

“Hand in Hand Zimbabwe will however do its best to ensure food security for vulnerable households.”

Having noted that there has been a spike in gender-based violence (GBV) cases during the lockdown, Hand in Hand Zimbabwe is working with the district Covid-19 task teams to disseminate information on GBV prevention. This is being done in partnership with the Women Affairs Small and Medium Enterprises Development ministry and the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Victim Friendly Unit.

Infection control accessories such as tippy tap hand washing facilities and liquid soap are also being distributed to water sources, business centres, and community gardens to help contain the spread of Covid-19.

Apart from the interventions, Hand in Hand Zimbabwe has for the past four years supported rural communities in Bulilima, Chikomba, Chirumanzu, Gwanda and Nkayi with access to clean water and sanitary facilities.

To date, the organisation has installed at least nine solar-powered boreholes and supplied building material for eight garden Blair toilets which will go a long way in providing water and sanitation for over 9 000 community members for use in managing and mitigating the spread and effects of Covid-19 pandemic.

In Zimbabwe, just like in many developing countries, many rural communities lack access to clean water which is a prerequisite to good hygiene. With that in mind, Hand in Hand Zimbabwe has through the support of its donors, extended efforts in providing clean water and sanitation. This does not only benefit its entrepreneurs but the communities at large.