The importance of community-based organizations and responses in the face of COVID-19
There is no doubt that the specter of COVID 19 looms large on Africa. Thankfully, many governments have already put in place mitigation measures and – to date – the reported numbers of virus infections and deaths are low.
Some of this may be due to the lack of testing and diagnosis facilities but at this stage, global and local experts continue to fear for the future.
However, several things are already very clear –
The economic cost of COVID-19 prevention has been deeply felt, with the restrictions on movement and social distancing measures already impacting African economies and individuals.
And negative social outcomes are already being reported from these restrictions on movement. Some of those that have been reported to us include –
Hunger and deprivation due to lack of access to income
Delays in education
Increased numbers of children connected to the streets
Malnourishment – especially amongst children, which has been exacerbated by the closure of schools
Kinship and other relatives struggling to care for children
Increased rates of child and early marriage
The full impact of the virus has yet to be felt but there are so many important lessons that must be learned and heeded from past epidemics.
At a minimum there need to be contextualized prevention or mitigation strategies in place.
We anticipate that there will be at least three phases of the epidemic and its consequences –
The emergency phase – helping vulnerable families and children prepare for the virus and cope with current restrictions on movement
The intermediate phase – helping vulnerable families and children withstand the impact of the virus or the current measures to prevent it. Enabling vulnerable families to stay together, enabling vulnerable children to stay healthy and safe, enabling vulnerable children to be in caring family or community environments as opposed to entering orphanages or connecting to the streets, supporting children in kinship or extended care environments, reducing stigmatization and more.
The post-crisis phase – supporting community action in the wake of the immediate COVID-19 crisis when it remains critical for us to adjust to the new “normal” for early childhood, adolescent girls, children at risk of institutionalization, children’s rights and more.
This is also consistent with the UN’s expressed risk analysis that outlines three main phases of risk – the risk of the virus itself, the risk of the socioeconomic and other impacts of mitigation measures and the long term risk of delayed progress in the SDGs. See United Nations Policy Brief: The Impact of COVID 19 on children – 15 April 2020
There needs to be action that immediately addresses and mitigates the punishing effects of restrictions on movement are already having an outsized impact on vulnerable families, communities, children and adolescents.
There is also need for action that supports the resilience of families, children and communities to whether the anticipated effects of the virus or extended mitigation efforts.
If and when the virus comes, there will be a need action that is fast acting and responsive and provides grants directly to community organizations that are caring for and coordinating community responses for the most vulnerable – families, children, adolescents.
There will be a need to pivot in our responses and our funding but we should not wait until there is more “evidence” of the virus – preparation is as important as response
Those who remember HIV/AIDS and whose communities were devastated by it are calling on us to act. – to prevent and prepare to cope. To support community and family strengthening as much as we support pandemic prevention efforts.
To prevent a health crisis from metastasizing into a deep, prolonged social one that has its greatest impact on vulnerable children and families.
Last week, Firelight compiled its most up-to-date findings and recommendations on how to support children and families in Africa in the face of COVID 19. You can read these recommendations in full here.
And if you want to give to Firelight’s efforts, please don’t hesitate to donate here.