we are going to see the importance of risk communication and community engagement in fighting against covid-19 and also describe some challenges we are still facing nowadays

1. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nzabirinda-etienne-963176125/ https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0712-1211
Etienne NZABIRINDA
+250786933786Etienne.nzabirinda@gmail.com Kigali-Gasabo-Kimironko-Kibagabaga
LONG ESSAY ON FIGHT COVID-19 IN AFRICA
TOPIC: RISK COMMUNICATION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CHALLENGES
Covid-19 is pandemic diseases caused by coronavirus. It was first identified in 2019 in china while world health
organization has declared as worldwide pandemic on 30 January 2020. Covid19 has common symptoms like
fever, cough, fatigue and shortness of breath. In Africa, the majority of African government has taken different
measures to fight against Covid-19 and there are different strategies to put in action these measures including risk
communication and community engagement, even though we still have some challenges in fighting against covid-
19. In the following paragraphs, we are going to see the importance of risk communication and community
engagement in fighting against covid-19 and also describe some challenges we are still facing nowadays.
Firstly, risk communication refers to exchange of real time information, advice and opinions between experts and
people facing threats. In this period of pandemic in Africa, risk communication is very useful for interactive
exchange of information between experts about health and Africans population to inform them the consequences
on their health when they are not following measures. The Majority of African government uses social media,
television and radios to explain to the people how covid-19 is transmitted and mechanism they can use so that to
reduce spreading of covid-19 in Africa. Through risk communication people know the importance of washing
hands using clean water regularly with soap, wearing facemask, putting social distancing between them and
mobilizing people stopping unnecessary movement as main way of avoiding covid-19. As result through risk
communication facilitate the African government to reduce new cases of covid-19 as people have known the
effects of pandemic.
Secondly, the community engagement is defined as process of working collaboratively with and through the
groups of people. Community engagement is powerful vehicle used to fight against covid-19 order to bring the
environmental and behavioral changes as to improve health community. In this community engagement we deal
how people participate in fighting against covid-19 through wearing facemask, washing hands and social
distancing helps African government to reduce the infected people. not only that but also there are youth
volunteers who help the people to follow that measures and telling people to wear facemask in proper wear and
washing hands everywhere they are going to meet with others. Youth volunteers also helped people to sit in
church in proper way and follow regulation of sitting in church. So as people of Africa contributed in following
measures government has set and new cases has reduced.
Lastly, while we are establishing measures to fight against covid-19, The majority government of Africa has met
with some challenges which stop us from getting out of this pandemic. Nowadays some people are not wearing
facemask properly, washing hands regularly and not putting distancing between them as result the new cases
are increasing this day. Another challenges Africa can meet is overcrowded settlement which reducing social
distancing between them and some people started to reopen what government has closed. as these days many
people started to give up about to follow measures of fight against covid-19 we are getting new cases increasing
day by day.
As conclusion, the risk communication and community engagement play a big role about fighting against covid-
19 as people have known how covid-19 is transmitted and strategies should be used to avoid being affected.
Through community engagement also people have also contributed for their self to fight against covid-19 by
wearing facemask and washing hands and so on. even if they are many people following measures but there are
some others who don’t follow them. The majority of government of Africa have made the regulations that punish
those people who don’t follow measures so as to reduce those challenges. so as advice I would like to tell each
and every one to follow measures the health experts has given us by wearing facemask in proper way, washing
our hands and avoiding to be overcrowded in small areas so as to fight against this pandemic.