The new COVID-19 communication and social mobilization strategy developed by Minister of Public Health and UN partners has been adopted by the Multisectoral Commission. It aims at fighting disbelief, denial and refusal behaviours as COVID-19 positive cases increase.

The strategy will use more deeply rooted socio-cultural messages, embodied by credible influencers, community and religious leaders, as well as coordinate institutional and community-led messaging and reinforce digital media, radio and TV.

In the meanwhile, several UNICEF partners continued to carry out communication, community mobilisation and awareness raising activities in different departments (Artibonite, Centre, Ouest, South, South-East) in coordination with the MSPP, through soundtracks, megaphones, communication material distribution, and trough the installation of handwashing points at the most frequented public places. Over the last two weeks at least 200,000 people have been reached with these messages.

UNICEF sensitized 1.4 million people on the transmission of COVID-19 and on handwashing practices through social media. UNICEF has also conducted a U-Report survey with key information on the level of understanding among the youngest population, in order to better target COVID-19 communication. In addition, local maternity healthcare professionals raised awareness on COVID-19 guidelines for pregnant women through a video that reached more than 152k people on social media. In collaboration with MSPP, this video produced by UNFPA, sent a clear message about protecting pregnant women and their newborns throughout this pandemic.

The MSPP and UNICEF are organizing the training of 512 health workers, including 399 ASCPs and 113 nurses and auxiliaries for sensitization and community mobilization in the South-East and Central Departments, which are bordering the Dominican Republic. These agents will be provided with protective equipment and work materials by UNICEF.

HL/ HaitiLibre