MALAWI COVID-19 Situation Rep ort A Health Surveillance Assistant, Spicter Chuma, walks out of the tent pitched for COVID-19 suspects at Kameza in Blantyre ©UNICEF2020 Reporting Period: 10 to 16 June 2020 Highlights Malawi COVID-19 Situation Report No. 12 • The Malawi Red Cross Society with UNICEF support screened more than 1,300 returnees and deportees entering Situation as of 15 June 2020 through the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe and Mwanza points of entry in Southern Malawi. confirmed cases • UNICEF has supported the Ministry of Health to procure 564 over 8,000 face masks to be distributed in early infant 73 recoveries diagnosis testing facilities to ensure the safety of Health workers and people living with HIV. 6 deaths • Save the Children with UNICEF support has completed 8642 tested samples revamping of all the targeted 50 Community Victim support UNITs (CVSUs) with a total of 514 CVSU members oriented. 485 active cases The CVSUs will provide support services to victims/survivors of violence, in 6 districts. Source: 2020/06/15 Malawi COVID- 19 Situation report, Public Health • During the reporting week, over 38,000 people were reached with WASH-related messages through mobile van messaging. Another more than 9,000 people attended demonstrations on proper handwashing. 1 Situation overview As of 15 June 2020, Malawi has confirmed 564 COVID-19 cases in 27 out of the 28 districts of the country with six deaths and 73 recoveries. Of these, 448 are imported, 101 are locally transmitted, 15 are under investigation, and 485 cases are active. During the reporting period, Malawi received an additional 415 returnees from neighbouring countries, mostly South Africa and 95 from other foreign countries. The number of Malawian returnees from the diaspora is projected to increase, considering that most countries are beginning to lift lockdown measures. UNICEF has developed a plan of action for returnees to guide the implementation of the key actions for reception and management of returnees. Screening of all returnees at the points of entry such as Mwanza, Kamuzu International Airport and Songwe for temperature and other symptoms is ongoing after which the returnees are moved to a holding centre for the collection of samples and testing. About 34 of the 184 returnees that left the Kamuzu Stadium holding centre in Blantyre prematurely have been traced and isolated. Efforts are being made to ensure that all the returnees are tracked and self-quarantined. As of 15 June, 8,642 tests have been conducted from 34 (14 PCR and 20 GeneXpert) testing centres across Malawi; increasing from a total of 25 over a period of one week. Programme response by UNICEF and partners Humanitarian Leadership, Coordination and Strategy Humanitarian Strategy UNICEF Malawi is working in the following areas of strategic priority against COVID-19: • Public health response to reduce coronavirus transmission and mortality • Continuity of health, education, nutrition and protection services • Assessing and responding to the immediate secondary impacts of COVID-19 • Strengthening Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) UNICEF maintains critical preparedness and response operations, including operational humanitarian access corridors, and delivery of services in Health, Education, Child and Social Protection, WASH, Nutrition and Communication for Development (C4D) areas to prevent and control infections, ensure continuity of education, promote positive behaviours, preventing transmission and ensuring the protection of children rights, especially of the most vulnerable one. 2 Humanitarian leadership and coordination Government coordination mechanisms • A rapid response team is in place under the Presidential COVID-19 Taskforce to oversee the reception of returnees and deportees from South Africa. The Presidential Task Force continues to engage in weekly meetings. • Draft Standard Operating Procedures have been prepared under the leadership of the Ministry of Disaster Management Affairs and Public Affairs (MODMAPE) and the MoH for management of returnees and are currently being reviewed by clusters. • The government continues to conduct press briefings aimed at providing clear information on the outbreak. • As per the national preparedness and response plans, several clusters remain "activated" at the national level for the response of which UNICEF is co-leading four of the clusters (WASH, Nutrition, Education and Protection). All the clusters are meeting and are closely monitoring the situation in addition to updating the National Plan while at the same time supporting the implementation of preparedness and response actions. (https://calendar.google.com/). • The National Disaster Preparedness and Relief Committee continues to meet weekly to review recommendations from the cluster system. UN coordination mechanisms • The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and clusters continue to hold weekly meetings to ensure better coordination and track progress in the COVID-19 response. Clusters submit weekly reports to HCT meetings to track progress and provide necessary strategic oversight. • The HCT in Malawi launched an Emergency Appeal on 4 May. The Appeal urgently seeks to support the National Covid-19 Preparedness and Response Plan launched on 8 April. • A funding tracking tool was developed to record all contributions to the National COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan and the Flash Appeal. This will help to keep track of the resources available and the funding gaps. Malawi COVID-19 Supply Chain system • The Supply Portal, managed by UNICEF, continues to facilitate requests by national authorities and humanitarian partners for strategic and essential supplies. • UNICEF continues to participate in the Logistics cluster meeting under the leadership of the Ministry of Transport and WFP and the Health medical supplies committee. UNICEF is a key member of the cluster given its procurement services function and its role in the coordination of the supply chain portal requests in Malawi. Summary Analysis of Programme Response Strengthening public health response to improve Infection and Prevention Control (IPC) and provide critical medical and WASH supplies About 2,500 Malawians have participated in the UNICEF COVID-19 Youth Challenge which went live on 3 June 2020. Forty-three per cent of the participants are 18 -24 years old and 40 per cent female. The majority have completed secondary school education and are employed. This initiative is a collaboration with Segal 3 Family Foundation, CARTEDO, Foundation Botnar and the Department for International Development (DFID). UNICEF has submitted to the Ministry of Health a proposed solution for drone transportation of COVID-19 tests. Although the government’s sample transportation request was initially prompted by the large number and sudden arrival of returnees from South Africa, the case for potential use has since evolved. The drone transportation of samples will now also cater to truck drivers and regular arrivals at the Mwanza border to help expedite the COVID-19 test results and prevent unnecessary wait times at the border. A site evaluation will be carried out on 16-20 June by the MoH, Department of Civil Aviation, and DFID/UNICEF’s drone operator (Swoop Aero) to address sensitivities surrounding the border and airspace between Mwanza and Blantyre. With funding from the UKaid, UNICEF through the Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) screened 1,304 returnees and deportees entering through the Kamuzu International Airport and Mwanza Points of Entry. MRCS through its volunteer base is also supporting contact tracing and active search of over 245 returnees who escaped from the Stadium on 27 May 2020. To date, 40 of those who escaped have been identified. Furthermore, UNICEF partner United Purpose (UP) in liaison with Blantyre Regional Water Development Office provided safe water by trucking as backup water supply to Blantyre Emergency treatment Unit (ETU). UNICEF also delivered additional essential WASH supplies to be distributed by United Purpose to the returnees hosted in Blantyre and Lilongwe. Ten additional latrines were installed at Kamuzu College of Nursing, Blantyre to serve the returnees during screening. To date, a total of 45 emergency latrines have been installed at ETUs in Blantyre, Mwanza, Mchinji, Mzuzu and KCH and at border posts in Mwanza and Mchinji. Each latrine ensures privacy and has a functional handwashing station with soap. During the reporting week, an additional 38,400 were reached with WASH-related messages through mobile van messaging. Another 9,183 people were reached with proper handwashing demonstrations. So far, UNICEF has reached 1,410,000 people with WASH-related messages through different approaches. Of these, about 395,000 are children under 18 years, and 1,015,000 are adults. The approaches include community radios, hand washing demonstrations at markets, communities and townships, mobile vans, IEC materials and newspapers. Repeat rapid water quality tests were conducted at Blantyre and Mzuzu ETUs, and all tested negative (safe for drinking). Since the onset of the COVID-19 preparedness and response interventions, a total of 34 water sources with the capacity to service a population of 8,500 people have been tested. Out of these, seven test results came out positive for faecal coliforms showing bacterial contamination. Strengthening Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) UNICEF with funding from UKaid through Malawi Institute Journalism (MIJ), Story Workshop and Development