Covid-19 Transmission Prevention for Indigenous Community

GN Cambodia treats child protection is the core activity that is in need to take actions during the COVID-19 pandemic. All 6 targets CDP are recommended to focus on child protection and provide appropriate support as well as response. Based on the COVID-19 report, GN Cambodia supported 51 children who have positive COVID-19 from March to August 2021. 15 positives cases among the 60 cases were cured and closed successfully. On the other hand, GNC is still working on the 45 cases (27 girls) of whom 44 children (26 girls) plus four new positive cases received COVID-19 awareness, consultation, support, and hygiene item. Totally, 45 cases are in progress and relevant CDP is supporting and monitoring closely with Community Mobilizer, local authorities, Health Center Staff, and child’s parents.

Kaoh Nheaek CDP, one of GNC target community development project, has been working with 69.84% of the total population are indigenous people with most of them are Phonong and most of the people are poor inhabitants. They are living bases on rice farming, animal raising, home gardening, hunting wild animals, and resin. People are still enjoy living with their traditional habits and they do not care about hygiene and sanitation. Hygiene and sanitation matters are crucial link with COVID-19 infection due to virus fighting opportunity. The communities do not realize about it, and they also do not understand how to protect and intervene that is why they do not wear face masks, keep social distance, handwashing and so on.

In February 2021, the project staff have worked closely with local authorities and key partners (DGB bank) to conduct the basic awareness of COVID-19 prevention, wash hands regularly and facial mask, to communities especially the vulnerable people. During the awareness, the project staff distributed hygiene materials; face masks, soap, and handwashing gel to communities. As a result, 174 families with 3,376 family members including 696 (338 females) registered children in 4 communes were received the hygiene materials. After the training; especially observation in August 2021, found that around 40% of communities understood about COVID-19 prevention and applying wearing face masks, wash hand with soap, and clean hand with gel properly. It is proved that the communities have a good basic knowledge regarding the hygiene and sanitation and some of them still need time for changing their habits.

The project staffs keep following up and deriving the real situation of people and the level of their understanding on this virus. Mr. Thaek Thol who is a village chief of Anchor village, Sok San commune reported that “the communities wore face masks while they left for a crowded place, practiced handwashing and they always strictly stay away from other people, and keep social distance”. He continued, “on behalf of the vulnerable community, I would like to appreciate and share our respect to GN Cambodia and DGB bank that donate the right support and encourage to the indigenous people in the remote area for our well-being.”