May 4, 2020 Guest Writer -

SNV Bangladesh stands beside the sanitation workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Under the SNV’s Urban Sanitation interventions, awareness-raising campaigns to reinforce appropriate handwashing with soap practices are being disseminated, alongside the handover of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) sets to the city authorities for its distribution among 2,982 sanitation workers from six working urban areas/towns in Bangladesh.

Nobody was prepared for this pandemic, even couldn’t envision this circumstance by any means. It is occurring like a war, actually quite a World War! But with a common enemy, the Covid-19. Its inevitable impact in every sector, from health to socio-economic, won’t let us forget about our lack of preparedness and also about the loss for the next years.

Covid-19 does not know about social class, race, religion, or gender. You may not get the chance to meet your beloved ones for the last time. from Prince Charles, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to your unknown neighbor across your street, Covid-19 spares nobody.

In Bangladesh, the first three known cases of Covid-19 were reported on 7 March 2020 by the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), and the government announced a shutdown of offices and public transport from 26 March. Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina started this fight against coronavirus as war and testing time for humanity.

Amid this countrywide lockdown, While some of us are blessed enough to stay at home and work-from-home, part of our population is in deep trouble. They have the urging necessity to go out, looking for daily work, enabling them to manage some bread and butter for their family, otherwise, they will die from hunger before the virus. Therefore, they are out and putting their lives at stake by working outside to empty your septic tank and clean the garbage, roads, and cities. Which is playing a critical role in preventing the spread of the virus by ensuring our roads, drains, public places, and communities. Yes, we are talking about the sanitation workers and cleaners who are always invisible but work day-long to hide your wastes and clean your ways. These workers, who continue to work through the COVID-19 pandemic, are unprotected, stigmatized, unappreciated, and always been ignored by all.

In fact, there is no greater solution than the prevention to conquer the war against the Covid-19. Government, non-government organizations, private sector, and civil society are working at different scales to raise awareness on the prevention of Covid-19, hygiene practices, and maintaining a physical distance.

The Directorate General of Health Services confirmed recently that nearly 1,400,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) were distributed at the hospitals across the country. However, many doctors who are in the front line, fighting to save the lives of infected patients, are getting tested positive of the virus. Till 24 April, 324 doctors were so far infected, according to a tally of Bangladesh Doctors Foundation (BDF). According to the foundation, the main reason behind the high rate of infection among doctors and other health workers in Bangladesh is the “poor quality” of PPE provided to doctors.

Despite many initiatives and actions, the continuous upsurge in the number of infections clearly alarms us for the lives of the low-paid workers, who have no option but to attend daily duty, no matter if they can afford a PPE or not. Realizing the necessity and importance, under SNV’s Urban Sanitation interventions, we provided PPE sets to the local authorities for 2,982 sanitation workers from our six working cities/towns (Khulna, Jhenaidah, Kushtia, Jashore, Benapole, and Gazipur). Now, these solid waste collectors, sweepers, drain cleaners, and pit emptiers are equipped with a reusable mask, gloves, goggles, vest and apron, and particularly for emptiers also gumboots and helmet.

Md. Talukder Abdul Khaleque, Mayor for Khulna City Corporation During the reception of the PPE sets.

During the reception of the PPE sets, Md. Talukder Abdul Khaleque, Mayor for Khulna City Corporation, said that “this PPE distribution to the sanitation workers will minimize their risk of being exposed to Covid-19. They will feel privileged thinking that they are an important part of our plan. Their family will be saved because of the major earner becomes sick, then the lives of all members get stop. Through my conservancy department, I will ensure the equal distribution and record of the PPE receivers to avoid duplication and misuse of resources in this critical time. My heartfelt gratitude to SNV for their continuous support to ensure safe sanitation management in the city even during COVID 19 crisis and at the same time I encourage other organizations to come forward to fight together and fight for others. So that we can overcome this pandemic.”

Aligning with the National Government campaign “My protection is in my hands”, SNV is more than ever reinforcing the key hygiene messages to improve the handwashing practice with soap. Several behavioral change communication videos and posters have been re-edited during this emergency, particularly targeting children and mass audiences. To make the messages heard, SNV uses effective platforms to broadcast and publish, not only SNV’s YouTube and Facebook but particularly the local TV channels, the local governments’ websites and social media, in addition to national TV channels.

SNV in Bangladesh continues its work, responsibly in confinement since 19 March, contributing to the country and virtual presence in the meetings with donors, governments, partners and target groups to understand the current situation, challenges and requirements. At this critical stage, we give greater emphasis to minimize the loss and impact of Covid-19 in the lives of vulnerable groups and raise effective awareness on sanitation and hygiene knowledge and practices.