Water and sanitation engineer Huguette Yago faces a challenge of titanic proportions in this COVID-19 pandemic - a lack of water. "Without water, there is no hygiene," she says.
In the past year, armed groups have devastated villages in the north and east of Burkina Faso, leaving more than 800,000 people displaced. They have fled to urban centers or sites designated for internally displaced people (IDPs), where overcrowding and lack of access to water are huge problems for families and host communities.
With Oxfam's support, staff at the Association for Environmental Management and Development (AGED), like Yago, are doing everything they can to help displaced people and prevent the spread of disease. Yago oversees six community workers who are responsible for raising awareness about hygiene measures, such as frequent handwashing with soap and water, wearing a mask, and social distancing.
It's your support as a member of the Oxfam community that makes these efforts possible. In Burkina Faso, we are working with partners such as AGED to provide humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people and host communities in the region by supplying clean water, sanitation, and hygiene equipment.
Read more about our work to reduce the risk of disease for those most vulnerable.
[link removed]
Conditions in refugee camps make slowing the spread of diseases like COVID-19 a challenge, but Yago and her team don't give up.
"Everyone knows their job. We have three awareness sessions per week, and the hygiene committee - made up of volunteers - takes over when we are not there," she says. "All of this requires huge resources, but health is priceless."
For now, there are no cases of COVID-19 at the IDP sites where Oxfam operates. But thanks to the work of people like Yago, if the disease arrives, we will be ready. For her, it is essential to prevent the spread now, in particular by ensuring that site managers are well informed about the instructions given by the World Health Organization so that they can in turn educate their peers.
"If the hygiene measures are applied, this will prevent the virus from spreading in these sites," she says.
Thanks to our dedicated community, Oxfam is working alongside partners such as AGED in Burkina Faso to improve hygiene and sanitation for displaced people. Your support makes it possible for us to continue our commitment to fighting poverty around the world.
************************************************
Want to contribute to the kind of work that tackles the root causes of poverty, hunger, and injustice - and changes lives around the world? Our work is only possible because of the support of people like you. Make a donation today.
DONATE NOW >>
[link removed]
************************************************
This email was sent to
[email protected]. If this isn't the best way to reach you, let us know your new contact information by emailing us here. >>
[email protected]
Oxfam is only able to save lives and combat hunger, poverty, and injustice because of dedicated supporters like you, and we always love to hear your ideas. Feel free to send us any comments or feedback you have here, or just reply to this message. >>
[link removed]
Reaching you over email is the best way we have to let you know about the ways you can fight hunger and poverty. If you want to unsubscribe, you can do that below, but if you leave, it will be harder for you to stay involved with Oxfam and continue the work that you've been such a critical part of. Thanks so much for your support. >>
[link removed]
Donate >>
[link removed]
Contact us >>
[link removed]
