Mercy village outreach teams help communities defend against COVID

Mercy Hospital's village outreach teams have quickly developed a COVID preparedness initiative to serve their communities with sensitivity and effectiveness.  Village communities may be fearful and superstitious about the COVID virus because of their experiences during the Ebola outbreak.  Mercy outreach teams will focus on building trust and teaching clients how to stay safe, with the use of visual props, hand washing demonstrations, and other methods.   

• Outreach services will be 60% clinical-focused, and 40% health education and relationship building. 
•  Staff will provide health education including hand washing and social distancing.
• Village leaders are being coached on how to help their communities defend themselves and work together for the safety of all.  

Scenes from COVID preparedness workshop in Fengehun village, served by Mercy Hospital and the Child Reintegration Centre:

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