OUR RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
The ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic are continuing to have a dramatic impact on the most vulnerable children and families. A devastating 2nd wave hit Uganda in May causing the government to announce new containment measures which will see schools and businesses close, restrictions on movement, and a migration of people from the urban areas to the rural areas, putting more pressure on already vulnerable households.
The UNDP estimates that a further 2.6 million people in Uganda will be forced into poverty and that chronic poverty will be further entrenched. The loss of time in education will hit the poorest and most vulnerable the hardest, as education has been identified as a key variable in reducing vulnerability to poverty and increasing household resilience to shock.
This all comes at a time when Uganda was slowly returning to a new normal. The cases may remain comparatively low for the time being, but we still recognize the need to stay cautious and prepared. We are continuing to promote awareness of good hygiene, providing food, medicine, educational materials and responding to emergencies with partners through our coordinated and community-led child protection system. Our social workers and our trained network of community volunteers, in partnership with the local government task forces, remain on the frontline.
For more information and the latest updates on the response to the pandemic from the Government of Uganda, visit the Ministry of Health website.
Keeping children safe and in loving families remains our number one priority
In addition to our ongoing child protection work, we are using our unique position to mitigate the health and economic impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. The consequences of the 42-day containment measures, announced on 6 June, will be felt hardest by the most vulnerable, still recovering from the previous lockdown. There are still many people struggling to find any means of earning a living with no welfare state ready to step in.
The Government of Uganda continues to do everything it can to try and fight the pandemic. However, most of the families we support live far away from the main medical centres and hospitals that are set up to handle the virus. Most of the hospitals are also overwhelmed with not enough bed spaces and oxygen supply. Washing your hands also gets a lot more difficult if you do not have access to clean running water and soap.
Since our organisation’s programming already aligns with COVID19 relief/recovery efforts, we’re doubling down on this work. We have prioritised prevention through raising awareness to make sure the risk from this virus and the new wave is understood by our community volunteers who in turn pass this knowledge on to the families we support. We are continuing to provide emergency essentials including food, medical support, mental health and well-being support, and hygiene materials to families who are finding themselves out of work and unable to provide for their loved ones to make sure they stay safe and at home.
We are taking the following steps to ensure that no family has to make the heartbreaking choice of placing their child in an orphanage whilst also ensuring that children living in orphanages are not forgotten