Combating the Rapid Spread of Covid-19 Through Youth Actions in Cameroon

Location: Cameroon

African Development Association (A.D.A), is a registered Non Governmental organization (NGO) based in Limbe, the South West Region of Cameroon and having a special consultative status with UN ECOSOC with its overall objectives to improve the quality of the rural communities in Africa through capacity building and advocacy for environmentally friendly and culturally oriented policies. It is focused on women, youth, orphans and ethnic communities who are mostly affected by poverty.

Cameroon has the highest number of people infected and affected by the COVID-19 in Sub Saharan Africa and with this dire situation, it became a categorical imperative and incumbent upon A.D.A to act expeditiously in other to curtail the rapid spread of this pandemic especially among the youth and children in Cameron. This initiative has been possible by sensitizing especially the Youth and children of Cameroon to maintain physical distancing at least 2 metres (6 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. More to that, some Youth and Children in Cameroon have been drill to seek medical care early if they have fever, cough and difficulty breathing and also stay home if they feel unwell.

Another important aspects of this initiative, has been to tackle fear and misinformation which are two of the biggest challenges we must overcome. Misinformation continues to spread, including incorrect advice, conspiracy theories and inflammatory claims which discriminate against certain groups of people. In this light, we are bent on sharing adequate information to help in translating critical public health messages, into work that will engage and inform people across different cultures, languages, communities and platforms in Cameroon and beyond.

More to that, a vast majority of Cameroonians live below the poverty line and the situation has been accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic short down.

In this light, A.D.A is equally assisting the vulnerable population especially the Youth and children during this shutdown through access to basic services, food and nutrition, palliatives, sharing of face masks and direct medical response. A.D.A has been able to assist about 50 000 youths and children in the cities of Limbe and Douala respectively and is also planning to reach about 8 million Youth and children in Cameroon. Youth members of African Development Association are involved in this project and we are also partnering with our sister organization Victorious Youths Movement and in the days ahead, we will be partnering with the Cameroon National Youth Council and the Ministry of Youth Affairs in Cameroon respectively for greater impact.

The major challenge faced by this initiative is financial constraints taking into cognizance the prevailing economic situation in Cameroon accentuated by the advent of the COVID-19, it has became a herculean or an uphill task for us to raise funds locally in order to curb the spread of the ravaging pandemic in Cameroon.

Support

The required budget for this project is within the region of 500 000 USD. We need this amount in other to cover the entire Cameroon territory and reach especially the Youth and children in the hinterlands of Cameroon that are the most vulnerable to COVID-19.

As aforementioned, it is practically impossible to raise funds within Cameroon in other to combat the rapid spread of the COVID-19 because of the prevailing economic situation coupled with the COVID-19 lock down. In this light, we are hoping to gain access to funding through this momentous platform to achieve our set objectives.

Other needs: Access to information, Space for online meetings

See more: www.afrideva2.org

For more information contact covid19@unmgcy.org