Burundi
Burundi has yet to take drastic measures of lockdown, prohibiting social, official or public gatherings, but the government has suspended flights to and from Melchior Ndadaye International Airport, encouraged citizens to wash their hands, and provided a hotline for reporting those who could have been infected.
Concerns and Challenges
Access to face masks and sanitation products is difficult, especially for women and girls, epidemiological surveillance and investigation of cases, taking into account risk communication and community engagement, and prevention and management of false information are all challenges in which Mamas for Burundi (MAFOBA) is facing.
Adaptation Measures and Emergency Fund
MAFOBA is utilizing its experience with informative campaigns, such as the Promotion of Maternal and Reproductive Health in the Six Provinces of Burundi program, to inform their communities about COVID-19 and preventative measures on spreading and contracting the virus.
The members of MAFOBA and its volunteers have been hard at work raising awareness of the pandemic in the field.
They have been especially grateful for the infusion of funds from our Emergency Fund to allow them to work in an unrestricted fashion to determine, and meet, needs on a day by day basis within their communities.
Update from June 2020
MAFOBA is combining their information campaigns on reproductive health and prevention of COVID-19. This allows for more aspects of women and girls’ health to be cared for simultaneously.
