4/8/2021
2020 presented unprecedented challenges due to Covid-19, which caused uncertainty, fear and significant lifestyle change across the world. At PWC, we mainly interact with our membership face to face and from within their communities. The pandemic caused us to pause much of our fieldwork. However, working from home meant that we honed our distance collaboration skills and that greater numbers of PWC staff and volunteers got to participate in virtual learning events and webinars.
While our strategic goals remained unchanged, our focus was shifted to raising awareness of Covid-19 prevention practices and mitigating its effects for the most vulnerable in the communities we serve. Collaborating with various stakeholders, including government officials and development partners, PWC staff and members shared vital preventative information, including details about adequate hygiene and sanitation practices, and distributed much needed cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment to those who do not have the means to buy them themselves.
Improved hand washing and sanitation practices have also helped reduce transmission of other viruses and with reducing non-infectious diseases. Health and hygiene education continues with PWC promoting relevant health protocols announced by the Ministry of Health. For example, we have fewer participants at workshops, we ensure that all prevention protocols are observed and use those opportunities to continue with our awareness-raising to help curb the spread of disease. This has become our new normal and will continue long beyond the pandemic.