Raising child-friendly COVID-19 awareness saved lives
Raising child-friendly COVID-19 awareness saved lives
How to teach children living with HIV about the coronavirus and make sure they stay safe and on treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic? With a grant from the Aidsfonds COVID Response Fund, our South-African partner Zoë-Life equipped frontline workers with protective material and child-friendly educational tools. Over 1000 children and another 1000 caregivers received child-friendly, accurate COVID-19 and HIV information.
Continue reading to find out about the activities and learn about the ‘tippy tap’.
The emergency
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Zoë-Life has seen problems in South Africa with accessing food and HIV medication due to restricted transport, loss of employment and lack of masks. This resulted in children not being able to adhere to their HIV treatment. Children living with HIV are more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection if the viral load suppression is not sustained.
COVID-19 is going to be with us for a long time. We need to continuously educate our children as they also need to practice safety measures
- Nokutula Heath
What's the impact?
- With personal prevention equipment, frontline workers were able to move in the community for continuous provision of services
- Education of caregivers on COVID-19 messaging increased their confidence to explain prevention measures to their children using child-friendly language
- Families with children affected by HIV who had lost their income received food vouchers and education on nutritious food. This assisted in taking HIV medication regularly
- The colouring book increased awareness in children on prevention and transmission of COVID-19, symptoms, adherence to HIV treatment, and hygiene measures. It capacitated children with skills of making their own clean water source for washing hands called the ‘tippy tap’
- Education for frontline workers on body safety messaging assisted in teaching vulnerable chiIdren and their caregivers about sexual abuse as more cases were reported during lockdown
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Contracting technical advisor to support COVID-19 response activities
Rapid assessment of organisations to identify their needs during covid-19
Purchase and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPEs)for frontline workers
Purchase and distribution of food vouchers
Development and distribution of colouring books with COVID-19/HIV treatment info and crayons for children
Development and distribution of COVID-19 Job Aid for frontline workers to educate caregivers and children
Development and distribution of pamphlets on body safety to educate and raise awareness on sexual abuse
Capacity building to implement Job Aid in organisations, provide mentorship for frontline workers to educate them on supporting caregivers and children on importance of taking their medication during covid-19
Contracting technical advisor to support COVID-19 response activities
Rapid assessment of organisations to identify their needs during covid-19
Purchase and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPEs)for frontline workers
Purchase and distribution of food vouchers
Development and distribution of colouring books with COVID-19/HIV treatment info and crayons for children
Development and distribution of COVID-19 Job Aid for frontline workers to educate caregivers and children
Development and distribution of pamphlets on body safety to educate and raise awareness on sexual abuse
Capacity building to implement Job Aid in organisations, provide mentorship for frontline workers to educate them on supporting caregivers and children on importance of taking their medication during covid-19
Sharing the innovation
“Children indicated that the colouring book portrayed reality and that they were able to learn about COVID-19. The colouring book could be the innovation that can be scaled up and shared with other Aidsfonds partners”, says Nokuthula Heath of Zoe-Life.
Are you interested and want to know more? Watch her latest video here and feel free to contact Nokuthula
More on COVID-19 and HIV
The COVID-19 pandemic is strongly affecting the HIV response. Local and regional partners face increased difficulties to reach their communities in need. Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Visit our COVID-19 page to learn how the AIDS response is affected and working in the current circumstances.
All (but one) pictures on this page are taken by Peter Banks. Special thanks go out to AIDS Foundation South Africa, for granting the photographer access to the COVID-19 awareness raising event and for arranging photography of the children and their caregivers participating in the event.