Ubora’s Covid Response
Ubora’s Health PIllar at Work…Here’s a summary of our response to the global pandemic in Tanzania.
Originally published in March, 2020
While no one anticipated a global pandemic to hit in 2020, the groundwork established by Ubora’s medical pillar has helped us respond, educate and prepare the village of Karansi and the greater Siha District for this crisis. Here is a brief summary of what has been done so far…
“The Coronavirus hit Tanzania in mid-March and we immediately mobilized new strategies to keep children, families and the widows in the Siha District informed about the virus and as safe as possible,” said Jerry Thames, President of Ubora.
According to the 2012 Tanzania National Census, the population of Siha District was 116,313. The western part of Mount Kilimanjaro is located within the district’s boundaries.
Still deeply impacted by systemic poverty and lack of basic healthcare resources, COVID-19 presents a very real threat for Tanzania and many areas of Africa.
Ubora has developed a comprehensive model of holistic community transformation built around four “pillars” or areas of focus. These include: education, medical, family/discipleship and commerce.
“Ubora was able to mobilize quickly because of programs in place through the healthcare pillar and the relationships we have on the ground in Karansi,” said Jerry. “Specifically, we helped facilitate the training of 24 community health workers in 2019 to serve as first-line health responders in their respective villages; we were able to use these trained and qualified workers to help us proactively communicate with villagers about the Coronavirus situation.”
Community Health Worker training in Karansi in 2019.
The Health Worker Training classes were led by faculty from Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, using the Global Health Initiative Training Program. The training was conducted in Sanya Juu in partnership with Dr. Andrew Method, District Medical Officer for the Siha District of the Tanzania-Ministry of Health & Social Welfare.
In response to the global pandemic and its potential impact on the Siha District of Tanzania, Ubora’s leadership teams in both Atlanta and Karansi have mobilized with a coordinated effort. Here’s what’s being done:
Current Situation: Like much of the world, Tanzanian schools were ordered closed, including Siha Leadership Academy (SLA), a private English Medium school with whom Ubora has partnered for almost two decades . The children attending SLA receive two healthy meals a day. Without this daily nutrition for students, there is concern that children might go hungry.
Response: A feeding program was implemented to ensure students and families receive proper nutrition during this time with delivery of beans and maize made to families.
Current Situation: With school suspended for the foreseeable future, it’s important to keep students engaged and on task with their studies.
Response: The headmaster and teachers at SLA have put remote learning programs in place, a first for the school to ensure students stay on track. Teachers have visited children in their homes and are looking forward to resuming classes once the restrictions are lifted.
Current Situation: A need to identify SLA families and local villagers most at risk.
Response: Local staff in Karansi and representatives from the village committee visited approximately 230 widows and families in the area to identify those most at risk for food or other needs. With these people identified, food and other resources, including soap, were provided to ensure that no one goes hungry and other needs are met.
Current Situation: With limited media or ways to disseminate information, it’s challenging to provide reliable, fact-based communications to people in Karansi and the Siha District as it relates to COVID-19.
Response: Community healthcare workers have been out in Karansi and throughout the Siha District educating villagers on the importance of handwashing and social distancing. The teams on the ground used tools that Ubora had on hand, including a bullhorn and flat screen monitor, and made a makeshift mobile video unit. Traveling to the local villages and markets, the healthcare workers used the bullhorn to engage villagers, then played videos, one from the President of Tanzania, about the seriousness of the disease and another about how villagers could protect themselves. The healthcare workers also provided additional training and answered questions.
“Working with Dr. Method, the Siha District Medical Officer, we will be expanding this training program to include 120 community healthcare workers, two for each village in the district,” explained Jerry. “We are working through details with Morehouse School of Medicine and are excited to roll out virtual trainings for community healthcare workers. The healthcare worker initiative has already proven so valuable for our brothers and sisters in the Siha District.”
“The work we are doing in Karansi, Tanzania is more important than ever, as we continue to help fill the gaps and support the people of the village during this time of global pandemic,” said Jerry.
Our non-profit entity in Karansi, SHEFO, along with Pastor Wariaeli, organized a first ever gathering of religious leaders from all denominations to share information on COVID-19. The response was tremendous as over 80 religious leaders gathered in unity to learn and support each other through this Corona crisis.
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