At 8pm Monday evening, the Government of Uganda announced strict lockdown measures in an attempt to prevent a mass outbreak of COVID-19 in a country with 52 intensive care beds for a population of 44 million.
All public transport and private vehicles have been suspended. Public and religious gatherings have been banned, schools and markets have been closed and a curfew of 7pm has been imposed. It is a lockdown that will hit the communities we work with hardest.
For the child headed households in Kyaka and Palabek refugee camps who are experiencing ration cuts. For those in rural Lyantonde and Masindi districts, who are already facing food shortages. For children living without an adult who risk starvation now that all trading, food outlets and markets are closed and they are confined to their homes. These are now communities on the brink.
For street children living in Kampala’s poorest settlements, life has become perilous. Not only do they face starvation, but also the increased risk of police violence and beatings, every time they return to the streets in order to find scraps of food.
In the heavily overcrowded refugee settlements of Palabek (population of more than 46,000) and Kyaka (population of more than 113,000) overcrowded living conditions make it impossible to socially distance, let alone isolate. For families who contract the virus, they will find health facilities that are hugely oversubscribed, under-resourced and usually housed in tarpaulin tents. There are next to no intensive care beds in reach of Palabek, Kyaka, Kumi or Masindi.
The families we work with are dependent on the informal sector and everyday trade. They live a hand to mouth existence, often in very basic conditions. Having seen the devastation this virus has brought to the developed countries across the globe, we are fearful as to the carnage that may now be wreaked across communities throughout Uganda. With the Governments’ restrictions in place, these families now face the life-threatening choice between starvation or breaking the law and working with the risk of contracting the virus.
For many communities, a lack of education and knowledge on the virus has led to a fear of outsiders - who have been harassed and even beaten - in the midst of confusion and myths about what the virus is and how it spreads.
Street Child’s response has been immediate. We have mobilised a team of COVID-19 prevention workers in our six locations across Uganda to provide much needed education on the virus. By moving house-to-house and engaging local leaders, our teams will inform the community about the virus and support them in simple measures that will help prevent the spread of the virus. Through distributing flyers, erecting banners and hand-washing stations Street Child will ensure that all members of the community are able to access the necessary information and understand the vital prevention methods that can prevent the spread of the virus.
The cases may be few for the time being, but we recognise the need to get ahead of the game before it is too late. It is the promotion of education and basic hygiene practices and the provision of food items for those most in need that will allow us to do this.
Our teams are working tirelessly in order to reach over 30,000 community members, but there are many more that need our support. Which is where you come in. By donating to the Street Child COVID-19 Emergency Appeal, you will be helping us to reach thousands more families, offering them the vital support they need at this desperate time.