Campaign Reports

The Chipinge team has multiple roles to fill. It not only engages daily through the audio campaign but also supports the feeding project being carried out by GOAL and its donnas. We regularly disseminate posters and  give instructions on how to build “tip-taps.” People at the feeding stations are engaged on a much more in-depth level thanks to our Provincial Health Directors liaison officer that accompanies us. We also regularly assist the Chipinge ZRP during maze meal deliveries at OK Supermarket. We help to organise and control the crowds using our PA system and then educate them on things like social distancing and other key messaging from the ministry of health. 

The challenges in this part of the country,, once you are out of urban areas, are a little different in the very high number of elderly people and the poor literacy rates. Couple this with the poor electricity coverage and almost none existent radio reception due to the terrain, and you find that outside of the feeding station reach, many people have not heard of COVID-19. 

The team have been supporting the feeding programs almost exclusively. These communities have a very high elderly population and they have to travel log distances to get medical help and advice. 

The people are hugely grateful for the information on Covid19 as they have very limited access to other forms of information.

Once again access to water, Soaps, Sanitizers and PPE such as masks is very limited.

There are concerns for some of the younger members of these communities around an extension of the lockdown. They are worried how this will effect their ability to put food on the table for their families.

The domestic violence messaging is being well received with many community leaders backing up our team and also engaging their people.

There have been some stand out clinics in this area that are working hard with their areas to get the word out and try to prepare people for what may come. These efforts nee to be bolstered with supplies of PPE and sanitizer.

Chipinge and its surrounding is a relatively large area with its population very spread out. Despite this we have managed to reach a good number of people. Our team has continued to support the MoH & ZRP in Chipinge town to manage crowds during maize-meal deliveries.

Cyclone Idai has created many hardships for the people and communities of this area, making them among some of the most at risk. Covid-19 would be devastating to this area due to a combination of  poor overland accessibility, a largely malnourished population, high numbers of elderly people and extremely limited access to clean water.

Despite all the challenges faced by these communities, they are the most receptive, engaged and proactive. They have embraced and mastered tip-taps. They are in many cases, through their village leadership, assisting the elderly allowing them to self isolate where possible.

The clinics and health workers of this area are also among the most dedicated. They are very short staffed and short supplied, but they continue to come up with work arounds. Our mobile teams have been a great help in this respect, allowing them to reach many of the distant communities in their jurisdiction.