Electronic COVID -19 Response

Location: Ghana (Wassa Amenfi Bodi)

COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, continues to rampage across the continent, moving from one country to another causing over 133,879 deaths across the globe (worldometer, 2020). As time progresses, the number of cases continues to rise from one country to another. Globally, over 2,000,000,000 cases have been confirmed (Worldometer, 2020). There is no vaccine or medicine for this virus, just precautionary measures set by the World Health Organization (WHO) including the regular cleaning of hands with alcohol-based hand rub or washing them thoroughly with soap and water.

National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the institution responsible for disaster management in Ghana, has failed concerning inadequate capacity and preparedness to respond to disasters and build safer communities (Oteng-Ababio, M., 2013). Individuals in the rural and peri-urban areas lack access to clean water and talk less of alcohol-based hand rubs and soap as suggested by WHO. Upon the declaration that these products are one of the preventive measures for the novel coronavirus, the prices and demand of these, skyrocketed, leaving the less privileged especially the poor and disadvantaged, inaccessible to these products.

This project seeks to:

1. Educate 1000 individuals (youth, men, women, children) in the Wassa Amenfi Central, Bodi community through social media on disaster risk reduction: GAYO will provide an educative awareness video to individuals on disaster risk reduction to foster responsibility and immediate action towards disaster risk.

2. Develop a production video on how to prepare alcohol-based hand rubs and soap to 1000 individuals. This will be disseminated online to gain wider coverage and prevent gatherings. Through various platforms including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp, a production video on how to prepare alcohol-based hand rubs and soap will be produced and disseminated.

3. Give out the basic materials for the production of alcohol-based hand rubs and soap for 50 individuals (30 youth and 20 women) within the Wassa Amenfi central, Bodi community. The material for making soap will be delivered at doorsteps. I will compile the necessary materials required to prepare the alcohol-based hand rubs including 99% rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol), cup pure aloe vera gel, essential oil, cinnamon. Soap materials also include Uriah, thinner, perfume, color and delivered at their doorsteps.
   

To begin with, I will liaise with the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) to promote the legality and acceptance of the project by the masses. Additionally, a recognized liquid soapmaking factory and sanitizer making factory will be partnered with. Alternatively, this will promote a bottom-up approach of NADMO activities in response to disaster risk.

For feasibility, it is evident that the COVID-19 virus spreads easily. Regular cleaning of hands with alcohol-based hand rub or washing them thoroughly with soap and water is one of the preventive measures for the novel coronavirus. The project is likely a success because it supports the direct provision of hygiene/WASH products which prevents transmission of the virus. It requires no technicality from video production to the provision of materials and can be easily implemented.

Safety: To prevent congestion and facilitate easy retrieval of items and further prevent the spread of the virus, the information will be given through WhatsApp, twitter, youtube, and Facebook. GAYO is in contact with many of the community members from the various projects carried out there, hence the video can be circulated easily. For the raw materials, this will be delivered at doorsteps.

Support

Total budget required is 1000 USD

The above budget will be required to obtain the necessary materials required to prepare the alcohol-based hand rubs and liquid Soap. The slurry, Uriah, thinner, perfume, and color will be apportioned equally in the right proportion that can fend for 50 individuals. While the ingredients for making hand sanitizers including palm oil, coconut oil, olive oil, castor oil, lye, and fragrance oil will be treated the same. The success of this project will be obtained when people can make the soap and send me feedback on social media.

Other needs: Media coverage

See more:

Blog: gayogh.wordpress.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/gayoghana
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/gayoghana?_rdc=1&_rdr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gayoghana/
Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gayo/

For more information contact covid19@unmgcy.org