VL Zimbabwe Delivers IRS during COVID-19

VL Zimbabwe Delivers IRS during COVID-19

This week’s Fist Bump goes to VL Zimbabwe for completing their 36-day campaign on December 14^th in two districts in Mashonaland East. Conducted in two phases, VL Zimbabwe sprayed 133,078 structures for a spray coverage of 97.3%. Because seasonal staff stay in tents at campsites, VL Zimbabwe had to be extra vigilant to reduce any risk of COVID-19. It’s exciting to report that during the whole campaign, there was no reported contact with suspected cases or symptoms/signs of COVID-19 among seasonal workers nor VL staff.

How did they do it? To begin with, VL Zimbabwe increased the number of campsites from 4 in 2019 to 9 in 2020, to decrease the number of people at each campsite. Then, VL Zimbabwe followed strict risk mitigation measures, including:  

• SOPs self-quarantined before coming to the campsite, and in between phase 1 and phase 2 of spraying.
• Daily health checks conducted with a standard symptom checklist.
• Temperatures taken daily
• Teams worked in bubbles – only interacted within their bubbles.
  • Ex: bathing time and breakfast scheduled by bubbles
  • Tents grouped by bubbles at the campsite.
• Reduced capacity in tents to 50% – utilized local schools to provide sleeping accommodations.
• Supervisors strictly enforced the use of masks at campsites.
• Hand sanitizers were used regularly.
• Everyone washed their hands (handwashing station) when entering and leaving any venues, as well as before and after eating.
• Social distancing (at least 2 meters) to the greatest extent possible.
• Devices (phones, laptops, etc) were disinfected twice per day (morning and afternoon). These devices were not shared and were assigned to a specific person.
• Latrines were disinfected on daily basis using chlorine-based disinfectants.
• Food handlers underwent health assessments on a daily basis
• All utensils used for food preparation safely sanitized and stored as well as inspected and approved during and after every use by a qualified environmental health practitioner.
• All IRS personnel used hand sanitizer before going to the morning assembly.
• Drivers disinfected vehicles on daily basis.
• Strict social distancing of not less than 2 meters apart at the morning mobilization assembly required.

Congratulations, VL Zimbabwe for ensuring the safety and protection of everyone involved with the campaign, and kudos to protecting 315,403 people from malaria in the IRS campaign!!