Myths Compound Villagers’ Risk to COVI-19

Washing of hands frequently with soap under running water for at least 20- 30 seconds is highly recommended to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Image by Melissa Jeanty | Unsplash

by Rutendo Mapfumo

Myths and ignorance around COVID-19 are not unique to Zimbabwe as the whole world has been grappling with these two. For this community in Hwange, limited access to information continues to stifle local response to the pandemic, exposing rural folks to the deadly virus.

HWANGE, September 2, 2020. (The Citizen Bulletin) — Gogo Tshuma moves around with a political party regalia handkerchief wrapped around her face leaving only her eyes in the open. She walks to the nearest shops to buy a cup of sugar.

For her, donning the improvised face mask has nothing to do with health protocols to contain the deadly coronavirus. It is a strategy for evading law enforcement agents deployed to enforce COVID-19 restrictions around Musuna Shopping Centre.

On getting to the shop, Tshuma fails to understand why the shop owner always orders her to wash her hands with soapy water before entering the shop.

“I just want to buy my cup of sugar and go home before the sun goes down, is it really necessary to wash my hands? I did not touch anything dirty.”
Gogo Tshuma, 71-year-old from Musuna

To curb the global pandemic which has affected millions and claimed hundreds of lives worldwide, medical practitioners have advised members of the public to wash their hands with water and soap well as covering their mouths and noses whenever they are out in public places.

While these measures are meant to slow down the pandemic, a lot needs to be done to teach the rural folks in Hwange about the disease and measures they are being made to follow in order to help stop the spread of the pandemic.

Villagers in Dete under Chief Nekatambe, believe that COVID-19 is not a threat to Africans while some villagers from Musuna under Chief Hwange think it is just an engineered disease only meant for the rich and famous.

As the country remains on lockdown, many rural folks do not understand the measures put in place to curb the spread of the deadly and highly contagious disease.

“The village head advised us to stay home and use masks or cover our mouth and nose whenever we are moving out in public places. But what bothers me the most is I am unable to sell my farm products because I am grounded,” says Gogo Tshuma from Musuna.

Ward 16 councilor, Cosmas Mwakiposa from Lupote says the villagers are well informed about COVID-19 and level two of the lockdown. He believes there are other factors that have influenced the negative attitude towards the lockdown.

“Shortage of water and proximity to health facilities is a challenge as lockdown has restrictions in terms of travelling,” says the councilor.
 
Villagers who are on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) are the most affected as they may default due to lack of transport to clinics, Mwakiposa says.
    
“Others are suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. All these need both food and access to a clinic,” he says. Villagers living in the rural areas surrounding Hwange have been mostly affected by the shortage of water.

Organisations operating in rural areas such as Vostile Creative Trust are appealing to the local government to curb water challenges faced by Hwange rural folks.

“Villagers travel long distances to fetch some water, so it becomes difficult for people to follow precaution measures,” said Malvin Daka the director of Vostile Creative Trust.

In order to help in curbing the pandemic Vostile Creative Trust is raising awareness by translating COVID-19 information into local languages such as Tonga, Nambya and Dombe.

“It is also difficult for the rural population to grasp the information, as a lot of it needs to be broken down to be understood especially on the signs, symptoms as well as the precautions against the Coronavirus. This should be in a language they understand,” says Daka.

Daka has appealed to the government to support vulnerable groups living in rural communities that are most affected by lack of information and hunger.

Meanwhile, although there has been a lack of accurate information dissemination in rural communities, the government pledges to play a crucial role in disseminating correct information using digital technologies.
    
Deputy Minister of ICT, Postal, and Courier services Dingimuzi Phuti says the COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc all around the world, forcing changes to people’s daily lives. Phuti is convinced digital technologies could help empower local populations with the information they need to fight the pandemic.

However, in Hwange ordinary citizens have little or no access to digital technologies.

“The ministry is playing a crucial role in shaping that transformation by ensuring equitable access to digital technologies by all citizens, including those in remote areas of the country,” he says.

Although Community Information Centres are strategic in the fight against COVID-19 as they give communities access to accurate information they need to take precautions to stop the spread of the virus, about, Hwange district only has these facilities in urban centres, a development which has left rural communities in an information blackout.

Launch of Hwange Community Information Centre facility in an urban centre, leaving out rural communities in an information blackout. Image by Luckmore Safuli | ZBC news

Greater Whange Residents Trust Director, Fidelis Chima says the fight against the pandemic is a collective effort especially when it comes to information dissemination in rural communities.

“The local authorities should work closely with the residents’ association at rural ward level and the ward representatives can disseminate information to the villagers. Of course, the use of technology is the new normal, but in some areas the use of technology is not yet a reality,” says Chima.  

The economic meltdown in Zimbabwe, where many live in abject poverty has added more pain to rural folks who are struggling to adapt to the new way of life imposed by government authorities to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Do you have a coronavirus story to share?

WhatsApp us on: +263 71 863 6460.  Email us on: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.