March 16, 2021
By Aruna Kamara (Bo)
The Bo District COVID 19 Response Centre (DICOVERC) has recently donated food items to about thirty people who have been discharged from the COVID-19 quarantine homes in the district.
Speaking at the event of presentation of the food items to beneficiaries at DICOVERC Office in Bo last week, Bo District Coordinator of DICOVERC, David Fortune thanked the beneficiaries for turning up to receive their bag of rice each.
According to him, people deny when they were told that they were infected or family members are infected after the COVID test was done but as time went by, they realized that it was good for their own family and the community to comply with COVID 19 protocol in curtailing the transmission.
Mr. Fortune said that there were a lot of misunderstanding about COVID but with a robust social mobilization and the psycho-social team who were moving around the communities to raise awareness, there had been significant progress in dealing with the scourge.
“People must know that WHO has made it known that we are going to live with the disease and there is a need to accept each other in the community. The communities therefore need to support those who have gone through the pandemic,” he said.
Mr. Fortune said that they called those who have gone through the quarantine to give them food items as a way of supporting the families have gone through the bitter experience of COVID 19. He said they are aware of those with bitter experiences and some challenges in their homes in terms of feeding.
“We are sure this small gesture will complement the food you have at home. So please accept it in good faith and let us continue to fight against COVID 19,” he said.
Mr. Fortune noted that those who benefited from the donation were traced through the data that they have at DICOVERC office in Bo, adding that DICOVERC staff have no personally relationship with them.
He assured the beneficiaries that they will continue to have support DICOVERC as and when supports are obtained from organizations or individuals.
The Quarantine Manager of Bo DICOVERC, Winston G. Songo told the beneficiaries that they should rise above stigma and join the fight against COVID 19 stressing that it takes collective effort to win the war against the virus.
The beneficiaries thanked DICOVERC for the donation, saying it is timely as they have been in dire need of such food items.