Platforms to be created in Kagera to make people communicate easily

10Aug 2023
Correspondent
BUKOBA
Features
The Guardian
Platforms to be created in Kagera to make people communicate easily

TANZANIA Red Cross Society (TRCS) is set to introduce a Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) programme in Kagera Region to identify what is required to the communities and create platforms for communities to speak out about the issues that affect them.

TRCS's Marburg virus disease response project coordinator, Kheri Issa.

Kheri Issa, TRCS's Marburg virus disease response project coordinator said here recently that the programme will make their voices heard by the government and other stakeholders to take action, influence decision making and later on provide assistance in accordance with their needs.

During the implementation of the programme, TRCS’s staff will visit communities and have a face-to-face discussion with people to identify the main challenges they encounter, ask them what they think about the challenges they have in their localities and involve them in designing and developing work plans to solve the challenges.

 

They will also conduct research to identify effects and disasters that could possibly affect them and later on provide best solutions.

The work plan will guide them on how to operate their work more effectively, understand priorities they need, how to combat, prevent and control epidemic diseases and how to secure drugs in their localities.

“We have decided to embark on this programme after discovering that Kagera Region is a business hub for Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi and its geographical location facilitates movements for people from these countries,” he said.

He said due to this, Kagera Region needs capacity building on how to prevent and control epidemic diseases including Ebola, Marburg virus disease within their localities.

TRCS was recently implementing a five-month project dubbed: ‘Marburg Virus Disease Response project’ that was implemented by the Tanzania Red Cross Society (TRCS), Prime Minister’s office- Disaster Management Department, Medicine San Frontiers (MSF), World Vision Tanzania and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Africa) among others entailed to train volunteers to oversee its viability.

Other stakeholders include Management and Development for Health (MDH), World Health Organisation (WHO), Ministry of Health, Amref and Local Government Authorities (LGAs).

The project was executed in five councils—Bukoba municipality, Bukoba, Missenyi, Muleba and Kyerwa with funding from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Apart from that TRCS has been able to train 46 volunteers and 12 government staff for safe and dignified burials.

Cargo trucks, taxi drivers, motorcycle riders, passenger buses were screened at Kyamyorwa, Kihanga and Kyaka points of entry to control the spread of this disease.

Top Stories