COVID-19 Prevention, Control : Up In Arms Against The Global Monster

“We are so grateful to the United States Agency for International Development, USAID for funding the project to sensitise and take care of COVID-19 cases. Garoua Boulai hosts thousands of refugees from neighbouring Central African Republic, CAR, who need to be protected against the Coronavirus pandemic.” This is the informed view of Ella Mbomoyo Clovis, the Subdivisional Delegate for Women’s Empowerment and the Family for Garoua Boulai in Lom and Djerem Division of Cameroon’s East Region.

Refugee Women Mobilised
In May 2022, the East Regional Delegation of Women’s Empowerment and the Family trained some women leaders, together with officials of Garoua Boulai Health District, on COVID-19 awareness. Ever since, teams have been mobilised to sensitise people in Garoua Boulai and surrounding rural communities. “We work with 20 women’s associations; with each having an average of 35 members,” Ella Mbomoyo explains.

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

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 through the Risk Communication and Community Engagement, RCCE approach. And to improve Infection Prevention Control, IPC measures and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, WASH services. As well as to provide USAID prioritized and approved critical equipment and supplies.

Field Activities Ongoing
“We underwent training in several domains, especially on Coronavirus awareness. We have in turn trained other women in the Central African Republic refugee community on personal hygiene and vaccination. We lay emphasis on vaccination because we want all refugee women to be protected,” says Mariam Abdelkader. Who is leader of “Jeunes refugies conscients et solidaires,” the association of female Central African Republic young refugees in Garoua Boulai.

Awareness, Assistance
 “We are grateful to the local official of the Ministry of Social Affairs and UNICEF for the readiness to always give us a helping hand,” Mariam says. Amidst loud bursts of intermittent applause from fellow members squatting on mats behind her as she addresses journalists. In the breezy late morning weather in Garoua Boulai on September 27, 2022. Her group, which counts 35 members, has so far sensitised women in all of Garoua Boulai’s 16 neighbourhoods. As well as trained young refugee girls in different trades and income-generating activities.

Refuge...