As part of Somaliland’s efforts to tackle the spreading of Covid-19, Y-PEER with the support of the Urur Kaab program launched awareness-raising campaigns on the 15th June 2020.
On 31st March 2020, Somaliland announced the first two cases of Covid-19 and launched awareness-raising campaign against the spread of the disease. Somaliland also appealed to the international community to support in its efforts for increased preparedness and prevention of Covid-19. The government also shared with national and international organizations a national Covid-19 Preparedness and Response Plan. The plan comprises of 9 pillars and is covering the period from April to December 2020. Realizing that communication is a key component to curb the spread of Covid-19, the government’s included risk communications and community engagement as a second priority after coordination and cooperation in the Covid-19 Preparedness Plan. Y-Peer collaborated with the Ministry of Health in Somaliland for prioritisation and identification of the most vulnerable groups within the community. After close consultations with the Ministry Y-Peer focused their awareness-raising activities to 11 identified IDP areas within the city of Hargeisa.
Riding in cars with loudspeakers, the Y-Peer team shouted out messages about infection symptoms, precautions and sanitary advice. Here in the Sheikh Omer District in Hargeisa
Through sharing information from slowly driving cars with mounted speakers, the team could reach a large population and at the same time avoid creating large gatherings. Y-Peer made use of their existing social media channels to share information vidweos, particularly among the youth.
