UNRC, HRH Princess Tsandzile, Officials and Vounteers Close the COVID-19 Sensitization Campaign in Hhohho

On Saturday, 30th May, the UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Nathalie Ndongo-Seh, in partnership with the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA); the Regional Administrator of Hhohho Region, HRH Princess Tsandzile, the Country Director of UNFPA Eswatini, Ms Margaret Thwala-Thembe, the Mayor of Mbabane, Mr Sikhumbuze Dube, Eswatini Police and volunteers empowered emaSwati with important messages on COVID-19 in the Mbabane bus rank, Swazi Plaza and Mbabane market.

The outreach marked the end of the COVID-19 Sensitization and Awareness Campaign in the Hhohho Region, launched on Monday, 11th May. Officials and volunteers reached emaSwati through conversation and sharing information materials on COVID-19. Volunteers addressed crowds in the Mbabane bus rank using loud hailers, as did officials share key messages with vendors at the Mbabane market in an official gathering.

The UN Resident Coordinator addressed market vendors, saying; “I would like to commend the incredible spirit of community and ubuntu I have seen and heard among the people of this beautiful kingdom that continues to amaze me. You have come together to help your neighbors hit the hardest by COVID19; by volunteering in kitchens; by donating food; by feeding orphans and the elderly; by looking out for the most vulnerable in society. Those acts of coming together to mitigate the socioeconomic impact of COVID19 will help the country recover and rebuild better,”

“As this leg of the campaign comes to an end, rest assured that the UN family will continue to support His Majesty’s Government and the people of Eswatini to fight the impact of the virus in the country. Please continue to play your part to keep this beautiful kingdom safe. Let us make sure to leave no one behind and remember, the well-being of each of us depends on the well-being of all of us!”  

HRH Princess Tsandzile, handed over 50 masks, supported by the UN, to the vendors at Mbabane market, in an effort to ensure that we leave no one behind our nation’s response to COVID-19.

In an act of solidarity with Eswatini Government and partners, the UN is supporting the campaign by training 80 volunteers, with the guidance of the World Health Organisation (WHO), providing 20 loud hailers, 10,000 re-usable masks and information materials.

The campaign is being implemented over three months with support from the UN, by the Regional Task Forces in partnership with NDMA, CANGO, NERCHA and many other partners including the private sector and the media in urban and peri-urban areas considered as COVID-19 hotspots in Manzini, Matsapha, Ezulwini and Mbabane municipalities.