By Daniel Sapuli, MANA
Creative Centre for Community Mobilization (CRECCOM) has called upon traditional leaders and communities in Thyolo to build good working relationship with health workers as one way of dealing with COVID-19 which is caused by Coronavirus.
CRECCOM Community Engagement Officer, Thomas Chimwaza, said with the COVID-19 pandemic, health workers bear risk responsibility in assisting patients, including those suspected or confirmed to be COVID-19 positive, hence the need for strong partnership with grassroots support from community members.
Chimwaza said this on Friday during a sensitization meeting that was held at Chimvu Primary School in Sub Traditional Authority Mangazi in the district.
The meeting was aimed at addressing traditional leaders and other stakeholders about control measures of the Coronavirus so that they can take such messages to other people in their areas.
“Though our main mission is on CDSS education, we consider it significant to intervene and assist government in fighting the COVID-19.
“To deal with this pandemic, we believe that our organization as well has to play a role. That is why we have embarked on this sensitization campaign,” said Chimwaza.
During the sensitization meeting among others, the traditional leaders and other stakeholders were encouraged to urge their subjects to adhere to the precautionary measures set by the Ministry of Health.
These include washing of hands with soap frequently, observing social distancing, avoiding touching one’s nose, mouth, and eyes, and reporting to the health workers any suspected person who might have returned from abroad or just call helpline number of 54747 for assistance.
The traditional leaders and communities were also urged to remind parents about education for their children despite the emergency closure of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Parents should keep on encouraging and monitoring their children on their studies hoping that soon or later they will be back to their respective schools.
“So, their minds should still be on education. The coming in of COVID-19 does not mean learning has ended in the country,” he said.
In his speech, Sub-Traditional Authority Mangazi applauded CRECCOM for the meeting, saying they had been fed up with false information in the past.
Mangazi further said the message they had obtained would be spread to others so that together they could win the fight against Coronavirus pandemic.
