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As the world fights the COVID-19 pandemic, Save the Children is taking COVID-19 awareness and prevention messages to several communities across all its geographical areas of operation. Among these, are communities in Beitbridge, Matobo and Kariba districts of Zimbabwe, where Save the Children has been conducting community outreaches, and making use of loudhailers, distributing posters with COVID-19 messages and having one-on-one interactions with community members.

Save the Children is implementing the Nutrition in Emergencies project in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, across five drought affected districts in Zimbabwe. The project supports 90,150 children under five, pregnant and lactating women through the provision of life-saving nutrition treatment to all children affected by acute malnutrition. The mothers are supported through community level Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-e), promotion of exclusive breastfeeding, mother-led active screening, COVID-19 awareness and prevention, promotion of exclusive breast feeding among other nutrition interventions in the context of the drought and COVID-19 emergency.

The mother of three is seen as a hygiene champion in her village. The coming of the COVID-19 pandemic has expanded Esnati’s roles in her community. She feels obligated to help her community fight the pandemic. Every week, she braves the sizzling sun and long distances to support the community on how they can prevent infection and protect themselves and their families from the novel Coronavirus.

“I am really happy. I am thankful to Save the Children for installing piped water at the clinic. During my stay here, there was no water and I travelled long distances to fetch water for use. It was one of the most painful and exhausting experiences I went through when I was pregnant.” “It’s hard for a pregnant woman to do such a task but I had to be strong because there was no other option. I would fetch water in the morning and evening but the water was not enough. It was difficult to practise good hygiene because you’ll be trying to save up some water.”

The president of Zimbabwe last week signed into law the Education Amendment Act of 2020, that outlaws corporal punishment and any forms of discrimination within the school setting, allows pregnant school girls to remain in school, as well as other significant wins for the Zimbabwean child.