Today, on World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) is joining the world in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The SRCS huge pool of volunteers have dedicated their time reaching out to communities through COVID-19 awareness campaigns, health promotion and hygiene promotion. SRCS main target areas have been the SRCS Primary Health Care (PHC) clinics, communities living within 5km radius of SRCS facilities, hospitals, IDP settlements and other high-risk areas all over the country.

 

Volunteers from the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) were trained on COVID-19 prevention measures and messages to pass to communities living in all regions in the country. This was done at an early stage in the hope of limiting the spread of the virus. ©SRCS.

 

SRCS volunteers clean areas with waste materials. This is to ensure the streets are clean and of good hygiene standards preventing the spread of germs. ©SRCS.

 

The SRCS supported the ICRC in hygiene promotion activities in places of detention across the country. These activities included awareness-raising on COVID-19 basic hygiene rules, and the distribution of hygiene items such as soap. ©SRCS.

 

The SRCS conducted hygiene promotion sessions to more than 60,800 communities living around SRCS clinics and in displacement camps. Soap, water tanks, jerry cans, dustbins, sanitizer bottles and boxes of napkins were distributed to reduce the risk of COVID-19. ©Ismail Taxta.

 

Trained SRCS volunteers were mobilized to carry out house to house COVID 19 preventive messages to communuties living in all regions. ©Ismail Taxta.

 

SRCS staff were trained on infection prevention and control in health facilities. They frequently provide and instruct infection prevention measures to patients who visit the clinics and hospitals. ©SRCS.

 

A volunteer from Galkayo town uses a microphone to create awareness on COVID-19 and how to prevent it. Such preventive messages have been broadcasted through radio stations with key messages on handwashing, hygiene and physical distancing. ©SRCS.

 

Read more on SRCS response to Covid-19.