An Inspirational Fight Against COVID-19 in the Disability Community

In Mpolonjeni, Mbabane, lives an inspiring woman named Joyce Nunn. At 48 years-old, Make Joyce lives with a physical disability, yet is defying the odds in her fight against the coronavirus.

“I grew up as an orphan but found my mother after I completed school,” explained Joyce. Her resilience and strength of character is evident as Joyce’s positivity is infectious.

Joyce lives alone and is independent in all that she does. “I am employed and do sewing at home,” said Joyce.

The coronavirus outbreak puts extra strain on persons living with disabilities as prevention guidelines provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) are at times, difficult to implement. However, Make Joyce’s courage is moving as she said; “The coronavirus is a disease affecting the world and everyone is concerned about it. It has not affected me much as I am usually at home.”

The Kingdom of eSwatini went into partial lockdown on Friday, 27th March 2020, restricting citizens’ movements in certain circumstances to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

“The Government had to do the lockdown to restrict movements. It is working,” said Joyce. The partial lockdown and prevention measures recommended by WHO have changed many people’s daily lives as Joyce explained; “My life has changed a lot in terms of cleanliness. I constantly wash my hands and am very careful in all I do. Cleanliness is key. COVID-19 is extremely serious and so we must clean to the extreme.”

Make Joyce expressed concern that her community does not have access to sanitizers or masks. They rely entirely on soap and water to implement WHO’s guidelines. With deep concern, Joyce wished to raise awareness of the deaf community during the COVID-19 outbreak, saying; “I am worried for the deaf community. They don’t know what is happening.”

It is critical that we work together to ensure that nobody is left behind, as promised in the UN’s Agenda for Sustainability 2030, in the fight against COVID-19. The deaf community is particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 as they cannot be reached with important messages through mass-broadcasting. Take the time to consider your friends, family and neighbours living with disabilities: there has never been a more urgent time to do so!

Make Joyce shared her message with the people of the Kingdom of eSwatini, saying with heart: “Let us follow what WHO and the Government tell us to do. The lockdown is of good benefit to us all and we must not spread the virus.”

Join us in supporting all those like Make Joyce, living with disabilities. Be kind and consider your family, friends and neighbours. We are in this together. We will win this battle together.