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COMMUNITY AWARENESS TO S.O.P.S IN MINIMIZING THE
SPREAD OF COVID-19
ABBREVIATION
IMF: International Monetary Fund
WHO: World Health Organization
RDP : Relief and Development Peer Foundation
COVID: Corona virus Disease
1.1 Area of focus
Impact of COVID-19 across the global economy will be profound. Already, as described in greater detail in the policy brief ‘Shared responsibility, Global Solidarity’ on the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19, markets and supply chains have been disrupted, businesses are required to close or scale back operations, and millions have or will lose their jobs and livelihoods.2 ILO has estimated that full or partial lockdown measures now affect almost 2.7 billion workers, represent- ing around 81% of the world’s workforce, while the IMF projects a significant contraction of global output in 2020. COVID-19 is lurching the world economy towards a global recession, which will be strikingly different from past recessions.
The number of confirmed cases will be increasing rapidly unless we launch several awareness-raising campaigns to bring information on prevention and symptoms of the disease to tens of thousands of people, especially those who live in rural areas with no access to the internet or other information sources to survive the onslaught of COVID-19. Owing to the generous support of Sign of Hope, Relief and Development Peer Foundation (RDP) was able to reach 50,983 individuals through awareness sessions and train 141 community health volunteers (CHVs) on the preventive measures of COVID-19 in 7 districts of Ibb and Taizz governorates. RDP has also provided essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to 236 supported FDPs and 9 health facilities in the targeted districts. Besides, 800 packs of masks and gloves were being distributed while raising awareness for the public
The virus can spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breathe. These particles range from larger respiratory droplets to smaller aerosols. Current evidence suggests that the virus spreads mainly between people who are in close contact with each other, typically within 1 metre (short-range). A person can be infected when aerosols or droplets containing the virus are inhaled or come directly into contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth and The virus can also spread in poorly ventilated and/or crowded indoor settings, where people tend to spend longer periods of time. This is because aerosols remain suspended in the air or travel farther than 1 metre (long-range). People may also become infected by touching surfaces that have been contaminated by the virus when touching their eyes, nose or mouth without cleaning their hands, Following the initial outbreak in China, in early January 2020, COVID-19 began rapidly spreading across all regions of the world, achieving a pandemic status. Flattening the contagion curve became a priority in many countries in an attempt to reduce the load on the healthcare system and the overall mortality rate. Several countries enacted shelter-in-place and social distancing measures to reduce interpersonal contact and mobility in order to curb transmission of the virus. This was often implemented through massive “stay at home” media campaigns aimed at altering citizens’ habits. While the health measures enacted have been, by and large, homogeneous across countries, compliance with these rules varied widely with local context. In the absence of perfect enforcement capacity by states, cultural attitudes and behavioral norms, which typically vary from country to country, can make an important difference and explain deviations in voluntary compliance. This is all the more true when it comes to individual mobility decisions, which entail a delicate trade-off between the chance of contracting (or diffusing) a disease and the economic (and individual well-being) costs associated with significant alterations of daily activities (Salzberger, Glück, & Ehrenstein, 2020).
People who live in a community often have common interests and values. This is why organizations develop different ways of handling challenges of pandemics in line with the community’s interest and their way of life. Community awareness often refers to the degree that people generally know about each other, about social norms and people’s different roles within the community, and about issues that affect the community (Aldila, et al., 2020).
Community awareness is essential as it enable the community to reduce on their resentment towards specific laws that the government may have put in place. Having a proper community awareness is very critical towards achieving community acceptance of given laws and policies and this increases community participation towards their common cause, Community awareness as describe by Hill is the best way where in family elders recognize their role in the family& recognize their personal capabilities and strengths& appreciate their responsibilities in the community regarding a specific activity in the community (Prandi et al., 2020).
Awareness of any pandemic is very essential to the community as it enables the community to be prepared and provide the support to the vulnerable population to help in reducing the risk of the disease spreading further to other members. In early 2020, the COVID-19 (caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus) pandemic shocked the world, almost bringing it to an unprecedented stop. The new coronavirus apparently started to spread in China during December 2019, before moving to Thailand, Japan, the Republic of Korea (first confirmed cases on 20 January 2020), then to the United States, Vietnam, Singapore , and, at the end of January 2020, to Australia, Nepal, Europe (first cases in France on 25 January 2020 and later in Germany, Finland, Italy, Malaysia, Canada, the Middle East, and other countries of the Western Pacific Region and South-East Asia Region, and (3) onwards to Russia, Africa, and Latin America. On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 a pandemic. By 31 July 2020, COVID-19 had spread across 217+ countries and territories, with almost 17.1 million confirmed cases and 668,073 deaths. America then had confirmed 9.15 million cases, Europe 3.31 million, South-East Asia 2 million, Eastern Mediterranean 1.53 million, Africa 0.75 million, and the Western Pacific 0.31 million cases.
1.2 Description of site
Mukono Town is a municipality in Mukono District in the Central region of Uganda. The town is administered by the Mukono Town Council. The district headquarters are located in this town. Mukono Municipality is 21 km east of Kampala along the Kampala-Jinja Highway. It is bordered by Kalagi to the north, Kira Town to the west, Lake Victoria to the south, and Lugazi to the east. The town is about 24.5 kilometres (15.2 mi) east of the central business district of Kampala, Uganda’s capital and largest city. This is approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi), west of the town of Lugazi, in neighboring Buikwe District.
1.3 Statement of the problem
COVID-19 has been ravaging the different communities in Uganda and as of to August 2021, there is still cases of COVID-19 deaths in Ugandan. Currently in Uganda there has been 119,000 cases of corona virus with a total of 2,968 deaths, despite the government of Uganda continuous community awareness strategies the corona virus cases have been rising in the country. This therefore has made many researchers to question community awareness, adherence to S.O.P.S in minimizing the spread of Covid-19
1.4 Research questions
- What are the different ways of minimizing the spread of COVID-19?
- What are the challenges of fighting COVID-19 to the Ugandan communities in Uganda?
- What are the impacts of COVID-19 to Ugandan communities?
1.5 Justification of the study
COVID-19 has also affected the people way of life and as result people are no longer advised to go the bars and parties this has therefore made it worth carrying out this study.
COVID-19 has led to many deaths both in Uganda and globally as this is one of the reasons why it is imperative to carry out the study.
1.6 significance of the study
The study will provide information regarding the role of self-management in minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
The study will provide information to the Government on the influence of self-motivation in minimizing the spread of COVID-19.
The study will also enable the future academicians find information regarding the roles of Putting on a mask, washing Hands on minimizing the spread of COVID-19.
The study will also provide necessary information regarding the influence of culture on minimizing the spread of COVID-19.
CHAPTER TWO
LITEATURE REVIEW
2.0 Introduction
This section presents discussion to the study topic in line with the view of other scholars, however it will specifically include; to examine the different ways of minimizing the spread of COVID-19, to investigate challenges of fighting COVID-19 to the Ugandan communities in Uganda and eo examine the impacts of COVID-19 to Ugandan communities.
2.1 The different ways of minimizing the spread of COVID-19
Washing hands with soap and water is one of the effective ways of preventing the spread of COVID-19. Washing hands with soap and water can keep some one healthy and prevent the spread of respiratory and diarrheal infections from one person to the next. Germs can spread from other people or surfaces when a person touches their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands (Desai, and Aronoff, 2020).
Standard recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 include frequent cleaning of hands using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water; covering the nose and mouth with a flexed elbow or disposable tissue when coughing and sneezing; and avoiding close contact with anyone that has a fever and cough (Chirani et al., 2021).
WHO is working closely with global experts, governments and partners to rapidly expand scientific knowledge on this new virus and to provide timely advice on measures to protect people’s health and prevent the spread of this outbreak, In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is need to advocate and support healthcare professionals to continue promoting mental health care and healthy lifestyles (Islam et al., 2021.), Governments that have not yet done so, are encouraged to promote physical exercise, daily walks, and access to family-friendly community spaces, while maintaining social distancing measures. When people do physical exercises their Immunity is strengthened
The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented time all across the world. Worldwide, extensive social distancing policies are put into place, restricting people’s daily activities and worldwide pleas from governments asking people to stay safe and stay at home (Wada, and Oloruntoba, 2021).
These social distancing measures mean that people have far fewer opportunities to be physically active, especially if activities such as walking or cycling as transportation, or taking part in a leisurely activity (e.g. jogging, walking the dog, going to the gym) are being restricted. Furthermore, these drastic measures also make it so much easier to be sedentary at home for long periods of time. The impact of this physical inactivity may very likely be seen in many areas such as health and social care and the mental well-being of people all across the globe. Although these social distancing measures are important and needed in a time such as now, our bodies and minds still need physical activity and the many benefits thereof (Vianya-Estopa et al., 2021).
A study conducted in 2020 found a significant reduction in the likelihood of developing severe COVID-19 among infected patients who had consistently met the recommended physical activity guidelines in the preceding couple of years. Furthermore, COVID-19 patients who had engaged in less physical activity than recommended had lesser risks of developing severe disease outcomes or dying, than COVID-19 patients who were consistently inactive. During the COVID-19 pandemic, being physically active will be a challenge for all of us but it is critical that we find and plan ways to be active and reduce our sedentary time. Although our movement around our neighbourhood, town, city, country and the world might be restricted, it remains critical that we all move more and sit less (Vianya-Estopa et al., 2021).
The promotion of healthy eating is to be emphasized, considering the reduction in energy expenditure and physical activity that has occurred due to confinement. At the same time, warning the population not to overdo physical activity is also essential. As for the management of chronic diseases, we must urgently ensure that patient contact is not lost. This can be achieved by promoting the use of remote consultations and seeking additional strategies to accompany patients in their care, such as family involvement (Jiménez-Pavón et al., 2020).
Epidemiological data has shown that older patients with chronic conditions are at high risk of severe and critical illness from COVID-19, resulting in high mortality (Ying yang, 2020). Therefore, it is even more important to highlight the need for effective communication with patients while providing adequate self-management support, including advice on self-monitoring and early detection of worsening symptoms, as well as establishing point of contact for any health need (Hammami et al., 2020) These measures could contribute to reducing exacerbations, avoidable hospitalizations, and associated healthcare costs, this will be also important during post-confinement periods to avoid symptoms of post-traumatic stress and the progression of the severity of chronic diseases (WHO, 2020).
2.2 Challenges of fighting COVID-19.
Massive drops in working hours due to the COVID-19 crisis have had a devastating effect on jobs and incomes in Asia and the Pacific according to a new report by the International labor Organization. The impact of the crisis has been far-reaching, with underemployment surging as millions of workers are asked to work reduced hours or no hours at all. Overall, working hours in Asia and the Pacific decreased by an estimated 15.2 per cent in the second quarter and by 10.7 per cent in the third quarter of 2020, relative to pre-crisis levels (Kawohl, and Nordt, 2020).
The diversity and biological nature of global disasters are growing in frequency and severity along with rapid changes in new social patterns – such as diversity of social cultures, frequency of human movement, and convenience of communication and transportation. The frequency of various types of disasters has become a worldwide concern in the 21st century. Societies with a high risk of natural, human-induced, and biological disasters now have a heightened awareness and prevention efforts have necessarily become a collective responsibility of the public (Chen et al., 2021).
The seriousness of the biological disaster COVID-19 outbreak has required all countries to engage in extensive prevention efforts. The policies of isolation, quarantine, social-distancing and area lockdowns have been adopted by many countries. Insufficient and inaccurate information regarding COVID-19 has created a global panic which only serves to compound the problem. Prevailing anxiety has reduced social as well as economic activities with severe impact on individuals’ quality of life and employment opportunities (Fagherazzi et al., 2020).
A global health expert at the University of Edinburgh, has warned of “the Black Hole Effect” that the biological disaster may be caused by COVID-19. The concern that the media will focus on medical resources, research networks, economic benefits, national security, whereas other areas such as the restoration of interpersonal relationships, economic recovery, and social reconstruction may be neglected. This pandemic will seriously affect the operations of government agencies and the lives of every person (Zhou et al., 2020).
According to the report, most countries in the region saw a larger decline in working hours and employment for women than men. Also, women were more likely to move into inactivity than men. Young people have also been especially affected by working-hour and job losses. The youth share in overall employment loss was 3 to 18 times higher than their share in total employment. According to ILO, (2021) report shows a clear picture of young people and women being pushed out of work compared to other workers, With increased unemployment, young workers are likely to find it difficult to compete for new jobs. When they do find work, it may well be a job that does not match to their aspirations. Millions of women have also paid a high price and it could take years for those who have exited the labour force to return to full employment.”
There has been increased strain of government resources globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the value of transnational resources integration. expanding the development of epidemic prevention strategies and using comprehensive actions such as citizen governance and humanistic community-health programs. All countries need to publicize their COVID-19 circumstances, share epidemic-prevention information, and immediately conduct relevant research to develop effective epidemic-control strategies. In addition, it is critical to evaluate public-health epidemic prevention capabilities, organize required resources for disease prevention, deescalate political conflicts, address issues of government coercion, and support community health self-management (Anwar et al., 2020).
During the pandemic, medically trained personnel, as the backbone of epidemic prevention and first-line providers of infection control, endured heavy workloads, high risks of infection and unprecedented work pressures. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the role of the private sector has often been neglected in healthcare by international public health communities and governments. Private community pharmacies provide a significant service in healthcare. Further, in most LMICs, private pharmacies are broadly established and provide the initial point and preferred channel through which members of the community are able to obtain medications and healthcare services for the majority of the population in developing countries, including Egypt, as only 23 of 60,000 pharmacies are government owned (Caetano et al., 2020.).
The important value of private pharmacies was further highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. However, pharmacies were unable to fulfil their classic role in healthcare as a source of medication, as pharmaceutical measures such as a COVID-19 vaccines and antiviral medicines were not available at time of writing and will not be widely available for a long time. In the current absence of medical treatment and vaccination, the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic can only be brought under control by significant, rapid and widespread behavioral changes. Social and administrative science data could help mitigate the COVID-19 crisis to provide insight into public perceptions of risk, protective behaviors and preparedness measures, public trust and knowledge as well as misinformation. The methods of communication and channels of information used by the populace are changing on a continual basis; it is now of the utmost importance that social science research incorporates information from social media, as many authorities, including the WHO, use this to reach out to people (Caetano et al., 2020).
2.3 The impacts of COVID-19 to Ugandan communities
For the single mother in South Sudan, COVID-19 lockdown measures have paused her small business that brings food to the table. For the domestic worker in Guatemala, the pandemic has meant no job and no unemployment benefits or other protection. The spread of COVID-19 has left countries hit by the pandemic little choice but to shut down their economies. To “flatten the curve” ad preserve hospital viability, many countries have imposed lockdowns and strict forms of social distancing. Additionally, they have launched vast media campaigns aimed at alerting citizens about the risk of contracting the virus, but also to persuade them to consider the negative impact of their own mobility on others in the case of being asymptomatic carriers. Indeed, in the context of a pandemic, individual mobility creates a negative externality, since it increases the chance that others may contract the disease, and every social distancing effort by one individual generates a public good that benefits the community at large. Understanding how cultural norms influence citizens’ mobility choices is therefore important to determine what policies may be most effective against the pandemic. Given the limited capacity of the state to enforce lockdowns and the impossibility to maintain such extreme measures for long, citizens’ voluntary compliance with social distancing rules is key to slow the spread of the virus and save lives (Greenstone and Nigam, 2020; Stock, 2020).
Isolating the effect of culture is difficult due to potential local confounding factors that may also have an independent effect on compliance and mobility. To tackle this, we control for cantonal demographic, health, and socio-economic characteristics prior to the pandemic and interact them with time dummies to address their effect on the evolution of mobility patterns beyond that of culture. Public health is an inter-disciplinary field which is informed by academic research in medical, educational, economic, political and cultural areas. One area of specialization is synthesizing this research into strategies to improve human health. Including information and resources to address epidemic prevention. During the influenza outbreak in 2017, WHO published the “Pandemic Influenza Risk Management” document which highlighted different social-cultural contexts and relationship dynamics that result in people having different perceptions of risks and various trusted sources of health advice.
It is critical that medical services, epidemic specializations and community awareness efforts work together in understanding the epidemiologic triangle. This need is especially urgent in times of rising threats, such as infectious diseases, that deeply affect lifestyles and threaten human survival. Combining comprehensive risk management, all-hazards, multisectoral and multidisciplinary approaches can establish trust based on cooperation and effective communicative systems that empower community awareness. With people-centered communal engagement, we can allocate and make efficient use of local resources in carrying out the risk assessments and establishing community resilience. Thus, we can effectively eliminate the threat of infectious diseases. The major outbreak of infectious diseases deeply impacts national security, the economy, culture and vulnerabilities in the health systems. WHO listed COVID-19 community risk management as a key consideration for enhancing community resilience and practicing sustainable development in epidemic-prevention community building in the Risk Communication and Community Engagement Action Plan Guidance. The COVID-19 pandemic currently poses a global threat. Without vaccines or effective drugs, measures based on biological safety, such as quarantine, sanitation, and sterilization, are the prevention strategies currently available. Taiwan employs quarantine as a biological-safety strategy to intercept infected individuals from overseas and isolate them from their communities.
2.4 Justification of choice of selection
The study has chosen the research questions of different ways of minimizing the spread of COVID-19, since the key practices of controlling the spread of COVID-19 are individual based like washing hands with soap and water, social distance, staying at home all these are some of the practices that Minimize the spread of COVID-19.
The researcher also chose to use the research question of challenges of fighting COVID-19 to the Ugandan communities, this research question was imperative in understanding the challenges that COVID-19 has brought to Ugandans communities like loss of jobs, loss of income , loss of friends due to stay home policy.
The study was also imperative in analyzing how the impacts of COVID-19 to Ugandan communities as indicated by different organizations some of the impacts of COVID-19 included; loneliness, change of culture the message has always been limited interaction with other people this has changed peoples’ cultural practices.
2.5 Summary
The literature review indicates that the different ways of minimizing the spread of COVID-19, include; washing hands with soap and water, social distance, stopping activities like social gathering, staying at home all these are some of the practices that Minimize the spread of COVID-19, while on the challenges of fighting COVID-19 to the Ugandan communities, it was indicated as loss of jobs, loss of income , loss of friends due to stay home policy and lastly the impacts of COVID-19 to Ugandan communities as indicated by different organizations some of the impacts of COVID-19 included; loneliness, change of culture the message has always been limited interaction with other people this has changed peoples’ cultural practices.
