WhatsApp? VL Colombia That’s What

This week’s Fist Bump goes to VectorLink Colombia for their commitment to protecting public health even when malaria prevention field activities were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In May, after learning that two team members from VL Colombia tested positive for COVID-19, the team went to great lengths to reduce further spread of the virus. To start, the project purchased antigen diagnostic tests for all 60 field workers in both Guapi and Timbiquí municipalities, where the project works. Unfortunately, the tests showed additional Covid cases among the team, most of which were asymptomatic. Quickly, all team members isolated at home in their rural communities apart from the three people taking care of the Anopheles albimanus mosquito colony. Those three followed VL’s strict guidelines to mitigate risks in contracting or spreading the virus.

Unable to conduct field activities, the team decided to engage field staff in a discussion about Covid prevention, risks, and vaccination via WhatsApp. While most of the rural communities in the area do not have electricity, computers or even landlines, each team member had access to a mobile phone with WhatsApp access.

Initially, the project wanted only to pass along information about the virus but soon realized the team could be involved in a more participatory approach through Covid-19 WhatsApp training. In response, VL Colombia created a WhatsApp group for each municipality and put together a program to discuss a different subject every day. Each field staff member had to reply to a prompt from their group chat with a video recording of themselves answering their question or explaining their assigned topic. There were then group discussions. Following the group discussions, the facilitators sent flyers or other videos to give the correct answers and clarify any questions.

VL Colombia effectively raised awareness about the dangers of Covid as well as the need to take mitigation measures seriously and to get vaccinated. The response from the field staff was amazing with more than 40 videos, each made with a lot of creativity, research, and diversity represented in them. Issues discussed included:

• What is a vaccine?
• What vaccines are available for COVID-19 in Colombia?
• What is Colombia’s national vaccination scheme?

One of the achievements of the course was the change in reported willingness to get vaccinated. At the beginning of the training, only 40% of the team said they were willing to get the vaccine if it became available. By the end of the course, 80% responded that they would be willing to get the vaccine.

VL Colombia COP Manuela Herrera-Varela said, “We were profoundly touched by the loss of our colleagues and want to send the message that we are united not only in the fight against malaria but in taking care of ourselves and communities against COVID-19.”

Thank you, VL Colombia. Huge acknowledgements to the team, particularly the work of the entomologists Diana Lucumí, Nicole Vargas, Nicole Alvarez, and Karent Cotazo, for making this course a success.

Stay safe out there, everyone.