Covid-19 response: world update

As the rate of Covid-19 cases continues to rise in the developing world, ensuring no-one is left behind is vital in CBM and partners’ relief efforts.

Your ongoing support has meant we can do more in Africa and Asia to reach people with disabilities during the coronavirus outbreak:

India currently has the third-highest number of coronavirus cases in the world, so providing what is needed to the region is crucial. Alongside our partner GASS in India, we’re delivering food parcels to the most vulnerable people affected by the crisis. We’re also making vital Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits available to two hospitals in the rural district around Bangalore district.

And we are working with partner Sundarban Social Development Centre (SSDC) to bring dry food packs and hygiene kits to over 800 vulnerable families, including those with disabilities.

In the Philippines, CBM has successfully trialled inclusive face masks, which enable deaf people to lip read and stay safe from Covid19.

CBM is working with local Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) to produce these innovative, inclusive masks.

Above: CBM Philippines team wearing inclusive face masks.

In Vietnam, CBM is providing necessary protective items to people with disabilities, their families, poor households and elderly people who live alone, during the Covid-19 outbreak.

These include individuals like Mr. Thuan, (pictured below), who was born with a visual impairment and three other elderly members of his family. Currently unable to earn an income, your support has made a huge difference to their lives.

Above: Mr. Thuan at his home in Vietnam, with relief packages from CBM.

With the coronavirus outbreak already making life difficult, Cyclone Amphan was particularly devastating in Bangladesh. Thanks to your generosity our emergency response team was able to provide basic needs such as food and offered support to rebuild livelihoods.

We have also begun a six-month programme in Bangladesh of inclusive health care for people with disabilities, incorporating mental health and psychosocial support. We will give financial assistance to most at-risk households, including people with disabilities and their families, to support their basic needs. CBM is also working with key ministries of the Bangladesh government to ensure people with disabilities are included in Covid-19 response and recovery plans.

Above: CBM partner CDD and volunteers have trained members of the local Disaster Management Committee in disinfection.

We are supporting the government in Indonesia to ensure Disabled People’s Organisations are included in disaster response meetings. We want to raise awareness of barriers people living with disabilities face and ensure inclusivity in all information and policies.

CBM is supporting local hospitals in this area – developing online health services and counselling, supplying hygiene kits for people living with disabilities and those at risk and PPE and online training for health workers.

Above: CBM partner YAKKUM Emergency Unit has provided 442 hygiene kits, 342 packages of vegetable seeds, 535 food packages and installed 14 accessible sinks in the community. The efforts are supporting people who are older, living with HIV-AIDS, and with disabilities.

In Ethiopia CBM and our partner Ethiopian Centre for Disability and Development (ECDD) have been distributing food and hygiene packs, in the Amhara region, for 600 people with disabilities.

CBM supports the German Church School (below), which provides quality education for children with disabilities. While the school has closed due to lockdown restrictions they are assisting with children’s learning by sending worksheets to parents via SMS messaging and providing resources in braille and audio description.

In Cameroon, CBM has been working with over 60 Disabled People’s Organisations to provide necessities such as PPE, face masks, sanitiser and soap to members. We are also working with Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS) to support seven hospitals in capacities such as training and offering protective equipment.

Above: Every patient’s temperature is checked and hands are sanitised at the entrance of Nkwen Baptist Health Centre.

Due to lockdown restrictions in Nigeria, the treatment and rehabilitation CBM and partners provide women living with fistula is on hold. This disabling condition causes incontinence and leaves women prone to infection.

While living with limitations the project team are instead distributing emergency aid parcels to help those women most at-risk during the coronavirus outbreak.

Above: The CBM project team distributing emergency aid parcels 

Support our Coronavirus emergency appeal today (open link in new tab) to help transform lives, or like our Facebook page (open link in new tab) to stay up-to-date on how CBM is responding to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Header image: SSDC volunteers package potatoes as part of food relief parcels delivered to communities.