23 November 2020
Summary Report on COVID-19 General Grant support in Zimbabwe and The Gambia. November 2020
The following reports share some of the work that the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe and the Methodist Church The Gambia, have undertaken to support communities through the COVID-19 pandemic. This work has been supported with General Grants from the World Mission Fund.
These grants were given alongside the continuing Emergency Coronavirus Appeal from All We Can and the Methodist Church in Britain.
The Gambia – Methodist Church The Gambia (MGTG) £10,000 - Humanitarian Assistance during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
When Coronavirus was declared a public health emergency globally, The Gambia Government devised national measures to prevent, respond to and contain outbreak of
the disease. The Gambia registered its first COVID-19 case on March 17, 2020 and the Government took drastic measures to slow down the spread of the virus. One such measure was the closure of schools and universities and churches. A total lockdown affected small businesses, churches and put families at risk due to low income in some areas.
The Methodist Church in Britain (MCB) provided support to the response effort of the Methodist Church The Gambia (MCTG) to encourage preventative measures and in food assistance. MCTG response was COVID-19 Humanitarian Action for families, children and the most vulnerable. MCTG reached 1000 families in its circuits. In addition, a Bereavement Response Plan is being implemented in order to provide support in situations resulting from death due to COVID-19 infection.
This letter was received from Mr. William Foster, Administrator of the Methodist
Medical Work: From: William S. Forster To: Presiding Bishop Hannah Faal-Heim,
THANK YOU FOR GIFTS FOR DISTRIBUTION
Dear Presiding Bishop,
I wish to say thank you for the under mentioned items you sent to me for distribution to the people our Clinics take care of at Makumbaya, Giboroh and Marakissa: Rice, Sugar, Milk, OMO (Soap Powder), Bleach, Buckets, Dettol, Toilet Soap and laundry Soap
The above items came at the time when most of the people where in a desperate situation due to the effect of the Coronavirus on their lives. They were appreciated as it shows the love you have for them and the items brought them hope. Through you, I wish to thank the partners of the Methodist Church The Gambia for funds used to purchase the above items.
" Didst thou not make us one, that we might one remain,
together travel on, and bear each other's pain,
till all thy utmost goodness prove, and rise renewed in perfect love.
Then let us ever bear, the blessed end in view,
and join with mutual care, to fight our passage through,
and kindly help each other on, till all receive thy starry crown."
Yours Faithfully
William S Forster
Medical Administrator
Go to the Gambia Partnership Page for the original reports
Food parcels were provided for 300 households for a period of one to two months depending on the household size. In addition, support was given to MCZ owned Matthew Rusike Children’s home. The home survives on gardening and poultry production as well as donations. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, access to markets to sell garden and poultry produce has been restricted and donations were down. This left the home vulnerable and the intervention helped support the home for 3 months.
At food distribution points, awareness raising on COVID-19 was conducted - its symptoms and how it spreads. There was also distribution of information to vulnerable persons. In public places, posters were stuck on walls and trees for people to read and gain knowledge. The raising of awareness managed to demystify some of the misconceptions in the communities regarding COVID-19. Handwashing and social distancing practices were encouraged as the way of preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Personal Protective Equipment in the form of re-usable and disposable masks, hand sanitisers, liquid soap and gloves were distributed to both MCZ & Methodist Development and Relief (MeDRA) staff involved in the response, as well as to communities so as to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19. Communities have limited access to these materials thus the distribution to the 300 households as well as the churches in the areas was welcomed.
The well-being of people has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been a change in the normal life of communities due to the new norm of social distancing, no hand shaking, wearing of masks, isolation or quarantine, no visits to friends and family and banning of community gatherings leading to people not going to fellowship in churches. Some are failing to adapt to this new way of life thus theologians offered psychosocial support to communities to encourage and give them hope. This has enhanced capacities of communities to cope with the shocks due to COVID-19.
Personal Testimony
Agnes, is a member of the Chitsvedemo Society of The Methodist Church in Harare East district. She looks after her two grandchildren (aged 8 and 12) whose mother is in South Africa where she went to look for work. Agnes has been surviving on remittances from her daughter and growing food in her garden, however since the beginning of the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Agnes could not receive anything from her daughter and could not go to the market to sell her garden produce. This left her in a dire situation and she has been surviving with the help from friends and neighbours. She said, “I would pray all the time asking God to help me”.
Agnes said that this basket is going to help her for this next 3 months. She is very grateful for the support and she is going to pray even more for the people who gave the church money to do such a wonderful thing.
See the original reports on the Zimbabwe Partnership Pages
Please also see the work of All We Can working with partners in Zimbabwe in Emergency Coronavirus Appeal and a video 1.17 report from June 2020.