WHO and UNICEF support refresher training for 60 Red Cross volunteers

The COVID-19 Risk Communication and Community Engagement Technical Working Group conducted a refresher training for 60 Red Cross volunteers with support from WHO and UNICEF. The initial training was conducted after identifying the need to engage and sensitize people from Manzini on COVID-19 prevention as numerous communities in the region were experiencing cluster transmission.

The volunteers were involved in a door-to-door campaign in Manzini where they engaged residents from identified hotspots to sensitize them on COVID-19 prevention for a period of two weeks.

During this period, the Hhohho region also experienced an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases making it the second region with the highest number of cases in the country.

Ms. Zethu Msibi from the Ministry of Health highlighted that Hhohho is gradually becoming an epicenter hence the need to include the region in the second phase of the door to door campaign. She further mentioned that the campaign will be implemented using the six point approach which is Find, Educate, Test, Treat, Isolate and Trace. The proposed approach aims at intensifying finding symptomatic cases, testing, isolating them and tracing their contacts.

Dr Kevin Makadzange from WHO also presented key messages that the volunteers will be sharing with communities. He emphasized that communities should be encouraged to continue practicing good hand hygiene, cough etiquette, physical distancing and wearing of masks. Dr Kevin also mentioned that home care patients should be encouraged to adhere to self-isolation advice.

The volunteers will continue engaging communities in Manzini and the Hhohho region on COVID-19 prevention. Manzini continues to be a priority because the region still accounts for about 55% of all confirmed cases. Hhohho has been included in the campaign due to the escalating number of COVID-19 cases in the region.