COVID-19 information videos for informal settlements
With Tom Wingfield of Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine we have put together a series of videos to explain more about COVID-19. The first of these provides an overview (approximately 22 minutes long) and the others are shorter and focus on particular topics. Since creating the videos we have sought advice on two additional issues:
- How should we support people who have pre-existing health conditions? Who are currently taking medication?
- What do I do if I live where there is malaria and I experience some of these symptoms?
The answers are given below. These videos and text are accurate as of the 02/04/2020.
How should we support people who have pre-existing health conditions? Who are currently taking medication?
You can support your friends, neighbours and other community members who are living with TB, HIV, diabetes or other chronic conditions by offering to go to the local clinic to pick up medications. Remember these conditions are not easily contractible and so interacting with these people in your community to pick up and drop off medicines won’t place you at higher risk.
You might support elderly people in the local community by offering to collect medicines for them too.
Try to think about people in your community who might be vulnerable to infections if they have to spend time sitting in a queue at the health facility or having to collect water, or go for food from the shop or market. You can support all these people by offering to help with these things.
What do I do if I live where there is malaria and I experience some of these symptoms
If you have a fever without necessarily having other COVID 19 symptoms (e.g. cough/shortness of breath) you should seek advice and care. Your government should have a number you can call to ask for this help or you could go to your local health facility screening point if this is the advice provided. Remember to ask a health worker what to do before entering the busy clinic area if you are presenting at the facility. This could be done at a temperature check point or hand washing station if the facility has one.
Who is more vulnerable?
Maintaining good mental health
Reliable sources of information on COVID-19
Preventable measures – treatment at home