August Monthly COVID-19 Report: COVID-19 Emergency Response for Crisis-Affected Persons in the Lake Chad Basin and Burkina Faso

(IRC) implemented COVID-19 emergency response activities in the Lake Chad Basin and Burkina Faso during August 2020. The main challenges faced during this period included difficult access to project intervention areas in Cameroon and Chad, as well as the relaxation of COVID-19 barrier measures in Burkina Faso despite rising cases. In Burkina Faso, the IRC conducted kick-off meetings with local administrative and health authorities, launched the identification of 40 community relays, and initiated the distribution of WASH NFI kits to 6,000 identified beneficiaries. The IRC also identified 12 water points in health facilities for rehabilitation and validated maintenance kits' composition to ensure regular water supply in health centers. In Cameroon, the IRC trained and equipped 163 community health workers to carry out awareness-raising activities, which reached 9,795 individuals from 1,430 households. The IRC also registered 6,006 households for handwashing kit distribution, produced a French-language radio spot, and sensitized 10 water point management committees on cleaning and disinfection equipment. In Chad, the IRC conducted staff orientation on project implementation tools and presented the project to 41 local authorities and partners. The IRC also registered 3,914 NFI beneficiary households on the CommCare application, continued COVID-19 barrier measure awareness-raising activities, and took stock of WPMC inventories in all intervention sites. In Niger, the IRC targeted and distributed kit vouchers to 30,000 beneficiary households, including 159,362 individuals. The IRC also identified and established 70 COVID-19 messaging community focal points and 57 WPMCs, and sensitized 1,147 individuals on COVID-19 prevention measures. The IRC reported the following achievements in August 2020: 163 community health workers were trained, reaching a total of 163 individuals; 82,812 households (583,462 individuals) were reached through risk communication activities; and 583,462 individuals received WASH NFI assistance through all modalities. The IRC plans to begin the following activities in September: distributing 6,000 WASH NFI kits to identified beneficiaries in Burkina Faso, training community relays on hygiene promotion, and continuing to raise awareness on COVID-19 barrier measures. In Cameroon, the IRC will continue to hold information and advocacy meetings with local leaders, train and equip community health workers, and register beneficiaries for handwashing kits. In Chad, the IRC will launch calls for tenders for IEC tools and NFI kits, oversee awareness-raising through radio spots, and train WPMCs and CHWs on COVID-19 prevention measures. In Niger, the IRC will complete the COVID-19 prevention kits and begin distribution to the 30,000 targeted beneficiaries.