Physical Address: Svennebygrand7lgh1002-16372-spanga-Sweden/ KM 5, Zope next to Samakab Hospital Building, Hodan District . Phone: +252- 615562188, +254-746615155, Email:[email protected] [email protected]. website: http: www.stsinternational.org

COVID-19 Awareness -Raising Campaign in Merca, Region , South West State of .

Introduction.

Merca is an ancient port city on the about 110km southwest of Mogadishu. Recently, the control of this coastal city changed hands between the Somali Government and Armed None State actors like AS who were controlling the town for some time. The town is now calm and under the control of the government. Merca has a population of about 200,000 people and it consists of three neighborhoods, namely Horseed, Wadajir and Howlwadaag.

1 Physical Address: Svennebygrand7lgh1002-16372-spanga-Sweden/ KM 5, Zope next to Samakab Hospital Building, Hodan District Mogadishu. Phone: +252- 615562188, +254-746615155, Email:[email protected] [email protected]. website: http: www.stsinternational.org

Health Center in Howlwad aag.

STS International Solidarity has reopened the previous government health center in Howlwadaag which has a catchment population of about 51,000 people. The health center is providing an integrated package of health, nutrition, and WASH. Among the health services being provided are: • Outpatient consultations for men, women, boys and girls. • Routine and campaign immunization for under 1 children and pregnant mothers. • Antenatal care clinic, safe and skilled delivery, and Postnatal care services. • Screening, treatment and referral for acute malnutrition for children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women. • Multiple Micronutrient supplementation. • IYCF counselling in both group and individual settings. • Hygiene promotion at both health facility and community level. • Health, nutrition and proper sanitation education at facility level.

COVID-19 AWARENESS ACTIVITIES:

STS invited across section of community elders, women groups, youth groups, religious leaders, school teachers among many others to kick start a COVID-19 awareness campaign that will continue at the health facility in Merca, Howlwadaag for the next few weeks. Many of the leaders and community elders present welcomed the initiative by STS to raise the awareness of the community about the prevention and stopping the spread of Corona Virus and Covid-19 in Somalia and especially in Lower Shabelle region.

The health staff at the facility organized a well-ventilated large space at a nearby school close to Howlwadaag Health Center to conduct the awareness session and imparted key preventive messages as follows:

1. Observing respiratory hygiene by cover the mouth using a tissue, cloth or twisted arm when cough or sneezing. 2. Observing social distance of up to 2 meters from everyone and to reduce close contacts. 3. Frequent hand washing with soap and, 4. To avoid touching the face, eyes, nose, and mouth.

Key Symptoms of COVID-19 was describe to the community as:

1. Fever, 2. Cough 3. Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

The community members were encouraged to alert the health authorities about any suspected cases as isolation and quarantine are so far the most available remedy as more COVID-19 testing capabilities becomes available in Somalia.

2 Physical Address: Svennebygrand7lgh1002-16372-spanga-Sweden/ KM 5, Zope next to Samakab Hospital Building, Hodan District Mogadishu. Phone: +252- 615562188, +254-746615155, Email:[email protected] [email protected]. website: http: www.stsinternational.org

Annex A: Activity Photos .

3 Physical Address: Svennebygrand7lgh1002-16372-spanga-Sweden/ KM 5, Zope next to Samakab Hospital Building, Hodan District Mogadishu. Phone: +252- 615562188, +254-746615155, Email:[email protected] [email protected]. website: http: www.stsinternational.org

4 Physical Address: Svennebygrand7lgh1002-16372-spanga-Sweden/ KM 5, Zope next to Samakab Hospital Building, Hodan District Mogadishu. Phone: +252- 615562188, +254-746615155, Email:[email protected] [email protected]. website: http: www.stsinternational.org

A total of 64 people 25 women and 39 men attended this initial event today.

This activity is not a one-off but will continue for the next few weeks as the only available resource is prevention.

STS will kick start a similar awareness-raising activity in Janaale in the coming days.

The end.

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