COVID-19 in Africa: The Nuances of Social Distancing and Handwashing
The increasing spread of COVID-19 has necessitated enforcement of frequent hand washing, social distancing and lockdown measures as a recommended global strategy to curb community-based spread of the disease. However, pre-existing conditions in Africa impede capacity to observe hand hygiene, social distancing and lockdown.
Compliance with social distancing and handwashing is challenging in Africa due to poor urban planning in densely populated communities, food insecurity, water shortages, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, unemployment and lack of funding. The aim of this article is to unveil current challenges with social distancing and handwashing in Africa and propose innovative solutions to prevent community-based COVID-19 transmission.
One example provided is that In African slums and densely populated communities, several families share housing amenities such as toilets, kitchens and bathrooms. The demand by a large number of people to access these amenities precludes effective social
distancing, frequent handwashing and respiratory hygiene. The lack of potable water and inadequate ventilation in densely populated and poor communities further increases the risk of community transmission. Locally made hand washing amenities have supported handwashing in public places but the numbers are inadequate and hand sanitizers are expensive to purchase.
Source: Medical Journal of Zambia
Date of Publication: March 29, 2021
SIMILIAR RESOURCES
Tools
Examples
- How Might We Use Communication to Encourage Physical Distancing in Developing Countries
- Practical Guidance for Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) for Refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Migrants, and Host Communities Particularly Vulnerable to COVID-19 Pandemic
- A Guide to WHO’s Guidance on COVID-19
- Actions to Support Media, Enhance Access to Information, and Leverage Digital Technologies in the Fight Against the Pandemic
- Guidance for Including People with Disabilities in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Malaria Social and Behaviour Change Program Guidance in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic
- COVID-19: The Gendered Impacts of the Outbreak
- Responding to COVID-19 in Africa: Using Data to Find a Balance
- Tailoring Malaria Interventions in the COVID-19 Response
- Gender and COVID-19 Research Project
- IAS Conference E-posters
- A Coordinated Public-Private Sector Response in Liberia to COVID-19
- Guide for the Preparation of a Risk Communication Strategy for COVID-19 Vaccines: A Resource for the Countries of the Americas
- Atelier d’évaluation et de ré-planification du plan d’action opérationnel intégré de la communication de risque 2020
- Program Briefs: Changing Attitudes to Shift Contraceptive Demand