By Alhagie Babou Jallow & Jainaba Kargbo
Awa Sowe, Senior Information Officer at the Department of Information Services (DOIS) has recently been awarded a certificate in recognition of her role and contribution to the National Response on Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) in the fight against COVID- 19 pandemic in The Gambia at a ceremony held at the Central Medical Stores in Kotu.
Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) is a technical subcommittee of the COVID-19 National Health Emergency Committee, responsible for the coordination and facilitation of the planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of awareness, community engagement and behaviour change programmes on COVID-19.
Reacting to the award, Ms Awa Sowe, said: “I am honoured to have received such an award in recognition of my contribution to the fight against Covid 19 pandemic. It was a privileged to work with the RCCE for one year during the COVID-19 pandemic. I found myself in the midst of young professionals with different expertise that accorded me the opportunity to learn a lot of new things.”
Ms Sowe said she cherished the committee accorded her to travel to rural Gambia and to work on different projects on COVID-19 sensitisation activities both on radio and television, and her participation in the coaching and mentoring of boarder line communities on COVID-19 as well as chairing some daily press briefings.
It was very important to communicate to the public about COVID-19 - what was known or unknown about it; what was being done, and the actions to be taken on a regular basis. Preparedness and response activities were conducted in a participatory manner and decision making was informed by community feedback.
She further explained that the committee plans, implements, monitors and evluates RCCE interventions including awareness, social mobilisation, community engagement and behavior change in support of COVID-19 emergency response efforts.
According to her, RCCE is therefore an essential component of any public health emergency preparedness and response, and COVID-19 without being an exception, to help prevent / slow/ stop transmission of the virus in the communities.
“These include communicating effectively with the public, engaging with children, youth, communities, local partners and other stakeholders to help prepare and protect individuals, families and the public’s health before and during the response to COVID-19 as well as managing rumors and misinformation, monitoring and evaluating of awareness, community engagement and behavioral change programmes.
SalifuTouray, media assistant at the Directorate of Health Promotion and Education unit attested that Ms Awa Sowe was among the communication professionals that attended all their media briefings during the Covid-19 pandemic in Banjul, travelled with health officials in rural Gambia and fully participated in the sensitisation campaigns with commitment and determination.
“I can confidently say, she is very energetic when it comes to informing people about health-related issues in the country and she never relents”.
The award ceremony was held on Wednesday during the farewell ceremony of Mr.Modou Njai, former Director of the Health Promotion and Education, unit who bags an international appointment.
