Distribution of food and hygiene materials to Vulnerable populations during COVID-19

Vulnerable populations including LGBTI Community, Sex Workers, Young mothers, vulnerable families with children under 5 years got support of food and hygiene materials during COVID-19 period

The coalition of 4 organizations namely: Strive Foundation Rwanda (SFR), Rwanda NGOs Forum on HIV/AIDS and Health Promotion (RNGOF on HIV/AIDS & HP), Health Development Initiative (HDI) and Ihorere Munyarwanda Organization (IMRO) with funding support from the European Union (EU) have met today on 22^nd June 2020 at G.S KAGUGU to launch a project titled “TURIKUMMWE Project” aimed on Improving the lives of Vulnerable Populations including LGBTI Community, Sex Workers, Young mothers, vulnerable families with children under 5 years with emergency supply of food and hygiene materials to survive the lock-down by COVID-19 in Rwanda.

The project comes to further the governments’ stringent measures, in the wake of COVID-19, to combat the spread of the pandemic by ensuring all vulnerable populations who are staying at home and whose daily survival was  threatened by the pandemic are provided with food and sanitary materials.

The four organizations are aware that children of vulnerable populations under 5 years without proper nutrition increased in the communities during COVID-19. After realizing that COVID-19 aggravates the situation of vulnerable populations living with HIV and TB since they are unable to get essential commodities for their well-being as well as sanitary materials increasing their likelihoods to get infected by COVID-19.

The initiative also aims at upholding the CSOs role in contributing to improved lives of vulnerable populations at the community level through advocacy and service delivery.

In the Joint project supported by the European Union, the Coalition of four organizations: Strive Foundation Rwanda (SFR), Rwanda NGOs Forum on HIV/AIDS and Health Promotion (RNGOF on HIV/AIDS & HP), Health Development Initiative (HDI) and Ihorere Munyarwanda Organization (IMRO) will implement the project in the City of Kigali, Rwamagana and Rubavu Districts targeting 2000 vulnerable populations. The whole Project will be implemented for a period of  3 months and will use a total amount of 159,943 Euros equivalent to 163,461,746 Frw.

The Coalition of 4 Organizations commit to do the following:

1. Distribute food and sanitary materials to 2000 Vulnerable Populations including LGBTI Community, Sex Workers, Young mothers, vulnerable families with children under 5 years worst hit by the COVID-19 lockdown.
2. Improve on nutrition of the vulnerable groups in the City of Kigali, Rwamagana and Rubavu Districts within the next three months.
3. Raise awareness among the targeted beneficiaries on methods to prevent new infections of COVID-19, HIV and TB co-infections.

The coalition of 4 organizations have been working together since 2010 to improve the legal environment of Key population especially in decriminalization of Female sex workers and MSM from the Rwanda Penal code; and currently trying to advocate, sensitize Local Leaders and communities to end stigma and discrimination faced by the key population at the community level.

In response, the coalition has been contributing to the Government’s call to support vulnerable populations affected by COVID-19 with food items to survive the lockdown. The coalition also has been disseminating relevant information on social media channels (WhatsApp groups, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube) sensitizing and letting communities be aware of COVID-19 symptoms and prevention and calling on them to play their role in COVID-19 prevention.