(ERGO) – A youth group called Midnimo (meaning unity in Somali) have started a public awareness campaign in the border town of Beled Hawo, in southern Somalia’s Gedo region, to educate their community about COVID-19.
The group of 30 young volunteers, including some public health practitioners, spend about five hours a day going around the town with microphones to inform people about Coronavirus.
Abdiwahid Hussein Osman, the group leader, told Radio Ergo they base their awareness campaign on information from the Federal Ministry of Health on how people can protect themselves and curb the spread of the virus.
“We came together as volunteers after realising how ignorant our people are about this new disease. The youth, the doctors and businesses are all united and supportive of this awareness campaign,” Abdiwahid said.
The campaign began at the end of March. Since then as well as providing information they have also installed 10 handwashing facilities in different parts of the town.
“We intend to continue with our work until the threat ceases. The district authorities and civil society groups are now more aware and preparing to set up a local quarantine centre in case there are infections,” said Abdiwahid.
The Midnimo campaign is specially targeting people engaged in cross-border trade and other activities, as there have been several confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the neighboring town of Mandera, Kenya.
Ahmed Kafi Ibrahim, Federal Ministry of Health’s coordinator in Beled Hawo, told Radio Ergo that he has requested medicines and other supplies for treating possible COVID-19 patients. However, for time being he only has handheld thermometers donated by the World Health Organisation (WHO). These are being used in Luuq and Dollow on the border with Ethiopia.
The government has banned the entry of khat from Kenya and Ethiopia as a measure to curb the spread of COVID-19, but the leaf is still being smuggled in to Belet Hawo, local people say.
Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya have all announced the closure of their borders but enforcement seems to be a challenge.
Dr Olad, a medical doctor in Beled Hawo, has called on the government to send a team of doctors to this border area, as it is likely to see a possible spread of the virus due to its location and regional activities.
