Covid-19 And The Growing Risk:
Joy for Children Uganda is cognizant of and concerned about the rapid spread of the Coronavirus that has caused a global lockdown and led to tens of thousands of deaths. As of today, 6th April, Uganda has 52 confirmed cases of Coronavirus Patients while Globally, there are over 1,257,037 confirmed cases and 69,501 deaths and still counting.
Joy for Children Uganda, like everyone else, has been affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. The nationwide lockdown has had a diverse effect on our work across Uganda where we have a number of community empowering interventions. Currently, our Head office in Kampala and regional offices in Fort portal and Lira are closed and all our staff at home.
Current Government Interventions:
Joy for Children wishes to applaud the Government of Uganda for the radical yet necessary preventive measures that have been taken to contain the spread of the Pandemic, these include; among others;
- Identification and placement of high -risk persons under self-quarantine.
- Closure of all Entry and Exit points of Uganda.
- Closure of all Public places including schools, worship centers, entertainment centers etc.
- Temporary banning of all means of Public Transport and later Private vehicles etc.
Government through Ministry of Health has also carried out Nationwide Public sensitisation on the best health Practices to prevent the spread of the Pandemic; these practices include;
- Use of face masks and hand gloves where necessary
- Use of sanitisers and frequent hand washing
- Social distancing in Public places.
Further and equally important Government has undertaken to give social relief to the more vulnerable members of society by supplying basic food items.
As Joy for Children Uganda, we applaud the Government for these interventions and pledge our full support to ensure their success.
A Call To Action; Strengthening Prevention Measures And Mitigating Impact Of The Coronavirus Pandemic.
In order to further strengthen the fight against the spread of COVID-19 and forestall both the negative short- and long-term impact of the Pandemic; Joy for Children calls on Government to urgently take the following actions;
- Make it mandatory for every person to wear a face mask in public places.
- All schools before re-opening should employ preventive measures including;
- Placement of hand washing cans in all vantage points
- Procurement of thermometers and recruitment of medical personnel to monitor pupils/students
- Lessen class/ dormitory crowding,
- Do not chase away pupils/ students who have not paid up school tuition/ fees.
- Ministry of education should conduct regular inspections to ensure compliance.
- Government should create a special fund that can support the victims of the Pandemic including orphans, widows and other vulnerable people who will lose employment, small businesses and others due to the pandemic.
- In terms of Human rights protection, Government needs to do the following;
- Government needs to institute measures to protect homeless and street children who are in grave danger of double risk of exposure to the pandemic and also the state curfew.
- Punish errant law enforcement officers including LDUs who are using excessive and brutal force against vulnerable people like children and women to enforce Government imposed curfew.
- Establish a mobile task force under Police to quickly respond to the growing cases of Gender Based Violence in homes during this period.
- Ensure that workers engaged in construction sites including private undertakings, Government projects like dams, roads and other lineal projects are protected against the pandemic and not exploited.
JFCU Prevention Measures
JFCU in partnership with our Development partners will strive to support the above Government measures and incorporate prevention mechanisms in our areas of intervention through, among others, the following;
- Conduct community sensitisation meetings in our areas of work on the best prevention methods against the spread of COVID-19.
- Publish IEC materials in local languages and pictorial form to educate community members about COVID-19 and how to prevent it.
- Conduct resource mobilization campaigns to broaden our education sponsorship program so as to support children affected by the Pandemic.
- Organise dialogue meetings with Law enforcement agencies including paramilitary groups, KCCA, Police, UPDF and others to employ best human rights approaches while enforcing compliance of Government directives and curfew during the Coronavirus pandemic,
- Work with Ministry of Gender and Uganda National Children’s Authority and police Family Division to strengthen protection of vulnerable groups like women and children against Gender based violence and violence against children.
Joy for Children Uganda urges all beneficiaries of our projects, partners and public at large to report any suspected cases to the nearest health facility or call MOH toll-free lines 0800-203-033, 0800-100-066, for cases of GBV and VAC call 116 or our Telephone number 0414-380-417.
