COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR ZAMBIAN COMMUNITIES

The Butterfly Tree was able to provide vital support to rural communities during and since the outbreak of COVID-19. At the beginning of 2020 clinics in Zambia were ill-equipped to deal with the pandemic, most reporting their facilities had no hand sanitiser, disinfectant, or masks for the medical staff. We provided a continual supply not only to 20 remote clinics but schools as well.

Once the schools were reopened after lockdown, we were able to continue our donations and set up hand-washing facilities in 30 schools. this included buckets with taps, soap, hand sanitiser and disinfectant. We made material masks as families were unable to provide disposable ones for their children.

In addition to providing PPE The Butterfly Tree donated bags of ground maize to communities where there was a shortage of food. Between 2019 - 20 the Southern and Western Provinces of Zambia suffered the worst drought for over 30 years. During the rainy season in early 2020 people were hopeful that if the rains were good, they would start to recover. Sadly, COVID-19 caused a further setback.

In areas surrounding the Victoria Falls local people are dependent on tourism, and like the rest of the world tourism came to standstill. Though coronavirus numbers were high, recovery was significant as only 4,058 deaths were recorded. However, the situation was dire. Consequently we continued making food distributions throughout the year. 

Zambian tourism has been slow to recover, but now hotels and lodges are getting busier and predictions for the peak period from June to August are favourable. The Butterfly Tree has extensively trained youths that were on our orphan support programme, to become guides at Mukuni Village and Victoria Falls. which will give them a much-needed income. 

Thank you to everyone who supported us during this difficult period.