COVID-19 Awareness : Also The Concern Of Moslem Women!

In a circle, they all sit, with cuddled up legs. On prayer mats. But it is not the time for prayers. Yet! They are gathered in the courtyard of their leader. In the fairly hot afternoon sun this September 27, 2022. For some other business – which has to do with their very survival. And that of their community. And humanity as a whole.
Sporting sensitisation vests with UNICEF and USAID letterings and logos, and with rapt attention, they listen to Didjatou Hamadou, their leader. As she harps on the need to keep the dreaded Coronavirus or COVID-19 disease at bay. By persuading other women to do same. As well as accept to be vaccinated against the virus responsible for the unprecedented upheavals and deaths across the globe since 2020.

Rallies Her Own           
An influential lady with a commanding personality, Didjatou Hamadou is the leader of the Garoua Boulai Moslem Women’s Association based in the Bindi neighbourhood of the border town. In Lom and Djerem Division of Cameroon’s East Region. She is also the President of the Garoua Boulai Women’s Network. Which comprises several women’s associations. Didjatou and her group were earlier this year chosen to help to raise awareness on Coronavirus prevention and control project.

Coping With New Infections
Especially as Cameroon has since March 2020 been grappling with successive waves of the Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant surge in new infections. On August 17, 2021, the World Health Organization, WHO, said it had reported no new COVID-19 cases and deaths in Cameroon, bringing the total number of confirmed cases then to 82,454; with 1,338 deaths.

USAID-funded Project
Thus, the 12-month “Preventing and Responding to COVID-19 in Cameroon” project. Financed by the United States Agency for International Development, USAID at the cost of 500,000 US dollars (about 334.5 million FCFA), the project is implemented by the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF. Focusing on urban centres, refugee and internally-displaced communities, the project covers the North West, South West and East Regions.

Project Objectives
“Preventing and Responding to COVID-19 in Cameroon” seeks to prevent the spread and importation of COVID-19, and to quickly detect and appropriately respond to outbreaks in order to minimize the overall impact of the pandemic in the country through Risk Communication and Community Engagement, RCCE. And to improve Infection Prevention Control, IPC measures and Water,...