IMA World Health is partnering with the Africa Christian Health Associations Platform (ACHAP) in launching a response to the novel coronavirus COVID-19 in seven countries in west, central and east Africa.
IMA World Health, which has significant experience in responding to pandemics, including several outbreaks of Ebola in Africa, will work with ACHAP in responding to COVID-19 in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria. ACHAP is the coordinating body of 43 Christian health associations and faith-based associations in 32 African nations.
The ACHAP COVID-19 response in Africa will focus on providing information, technical assistance, equipment and supplies to implement infection prevention and control in health care facilities, which are chronically under-resourced and to support communities in surveillance and home-based care guidance. In addition, IMA World Health will work with ACHAP to:
- Develop and disseminate messaging on the virus to the public through churches, schools and community leaders.
- Supply health networks with curated and contextualized guidelines and best practices, both from national authorities and from the World Health Organization
- Develop systems and linkages for community-based surveillance, support referrals and facilitate contact tracing.
- Assist in the procurement of personal protective equipment and hand washing stations for infection prevention.
In addition to its partnership with ACHAP, IMA World Health is responding to COVID-19 in Tanzania. Thanks to existing funding and cooperation from UK's Department for International Development (DFID), IMA World Health has been able to work quickly with Tanzania's Ministry of Health to set up a call center that will provide essential health information about COVID-19 as well as counter misinformation about the coronavirus.
