UNICEF support provision of (PPEs) and help people protect themselves against Covid 19

As Tanzania is battling the COVID 19 pandemic, UNICEF is supporting the Government of Tanzania’s response by providing critical technical support to help to save lives and engaging mul­tiple influencers from faith leaders, to media and online influencers as advocates for key behavioural change to pre­vent the virus spread.

To ensure safety of health workers, UNICEF has ordered PPE kits and other emergency supplies worth US$ 550,000 that are expected in country before May ends. Addition­ally, locally procured PPE kits worth US$ 910,000 will be available in early June.

As co-chair of the Risk Com­munication and Community Engagement (RCCE) pillar group with the Ministry of Health, Community Devel­opment, Gender, Elderly and Children, UNICEF have helped bring together over 70 part­ners to join forces (local and international CSOs, profes­sional associations, bilateral organizations and UN agen­cies) in Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar.

Through RCCE, UNICEF has supported the Government to roll out a national mass media campaign with key targeted prevention messages includ­ing to the most vulnerable. Around 120 different contents reached 15 million people in their homes through national and community radio, TV and live media. Social media plat­forms, and the engagement of celebrities and online influ­encers continue to reach a further 3-4 million audiences every week.

To understand message reach and changes in knowl­edge, attitude and prac­tice UNICEF has initiated an ongoing survey in 8 regions across mainland and Zanzi­bar. While U-Report SMS polls and WhatsApp complement the myth tracking system to inform improvements to ongoing intervention.

Partners such as the Tan­zanian Red Cross are help­ing UNICEF support com­munity-based activities in major cities in which around 10,471,594 people (59%) out of a total population of 17,682,684 have been reached, while motorbikes and megaphones have been used to reach hard areas especially during this rainy season.

UNICEF is supporting com­munity-based surveillance in high-risk regions in Main­land through training of Community Health Workers (CHWs) who will be mobilized from mid-May. And through UNICEF support, 192,288 refugees in three camps of Nyarugusu, Nduta and Mten­deli are practicing hand-wash­ing following the distribution and installation of buckets

and liquid soap. The hard work of the C4D team from all sections within the RCCE Pillar structure has ensured important issues such as child protection, VAC, GBV are addressed, expertise and resources such as WASH are utilised, and the needs of marginalized groups are not overlooked with the RCCE response.

Capitalizing on the influence of religious leaders as a pow­erful channel to promote COVID-19 prevention mes­sages, guidance on safe wor­ship practices and safe and respectful burial, thoughtful advocacy with Christian and Muslim faith leaders resulted in worshipping from home, handwashing and physical distancing being promoted. The two webinar sessions with Muslim and Christians leaders in Tanzania, Africa and India have generated solid leadership commit­ments to step up and advo­cate across their worshippers and communities at large.