By Neo Kolane
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with NACOSEC and Quthing DISCOSEC and Migrant Workers Association, held a mobile van campaign in Quthing las t Friday.
Approximately 1,000 (50 percent women, 40 percent men and 10 percent children) were directly reached through the campaign at the taxi rank, in villages and small towns.
In her remarks, head of office IOM Lesotho, Eriko Nishimura warned that COVID-19 is real and does not discriminate. It requires a collaborative fight.
“Let us not focus on the difference – returnees, local community, and migrants. We need to be united and fight against COVID-19 together.’’
Nishimura emphasized the need for sustainable behavioral change, further reflecting on IOM support for the district especially on reintegration of returnees support during a time of need.’
At the same occasion, NACOSEC’s head of risk communication, Baroane Phenethi, congratulated the Quthing District Administrator for his demonstration of leadership during the COVID-19 crisis.
“COVID 19 prevention was key as the arrival of the vaccine would not necessarily ensure that everyone was vaccinated all at once,” Phenethi said
He further shared that up to now, 59408 people had been tested in the country; 10,455 had tested positive, and 285 had lost their lives. This, he said, demonstrated the need to come together to ensure that through strong messages, people will take precautions to prevent infection.
For his part, the Quthing District Administrator, Motete Mokonyane thanked IOM for its support to the district with various interventions including counter trafficking, reintegration support, and now COVID- 19 sensitization.
The DA also noted that Quthing was hard hit by COVID-19 as there has been an increase in cases of people with a strange flu, and an increased number of deaths related to this flu. He said, through this support, his district is encouraged to defeat this virus.
Mokonyane reiterated his commitment to strengthen prevention messaging through the District COVID- 19 Secretariat, reaffirming the district’s readiness to provide correct messaging to the communities about COVID-19.
