Responding to COVID-19 Challenges - Africa & India

Sept 2020

Great news for Pizz School in Zambia!  The children are able to go back to school! Thank you SO much for your support which has helped HATW to provide some assistance for COVID-19 safety measures in be put in place for the pupils to return.  The school successfully passed an inspection conducted by officials from the ministry of health prior to reopening.

Zambia’s National Education Coalition Executive Director George Hamusunga says "We are glad that the president has listened to our call in a timely manner and we are positive that the action taken by the government will help in mitigating the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the education sector."

Many precautions and changes have been put in place at Pizz to accommodate the opening of the school, such as:- 

• Lots of hand washing (This was not something they had focussed on particularly before, other than in the middle building where there are sinks and running water. Usually just water was used.  Now they use soap and thorough hand washing is being actively taught and monitored).
• Each child has a mask to wear whilst at school.
• Social distancing is encouraged, although difficult with a large number of children in each class.
• The temperature of all children is taken daily on entry to school and if their temperature is high, they go to an isolation room, whilst the school calls the healthcare unit who will visit, carry out an assessment, and put a plan of appropriate action in place for the school/child, if required.

HATW were also able to send funds for the sponsored secondary students in Zambia to buy masks to enable them to return to school as well.  Thank you!

More details from our other projects to follow ….