Mobilising communities against COVID-19 in times of austerity

The presence of Coronavirus has affected the social configuration and ideologies crafted towards journeying together, which has destabilised the development processes.

On this note, government remains indebted to communities' efforts and strategies, so far put in place to fight the pandemic. Coronavirus is a communicable disease which disengages the social fabric and interaction. As a community trouble, it demands for the mobilisation of communities individually and in teams to engage the pandemic if it is to be effectively tackled. Multidisciplinary lenses rather than science only, are necessary in the understanding and addressing of COVID 19. Drawing on what is taking place; this looks like a battle field of policy, economics, political, health and societal needs. However, the context in which every participant is addressing issues related to the pandemic, is quite contrasting and causing variant impact depending on the approach, as already demonstrated through radio and television reports, and social media, among others. However, some of the challenges we encounter in different contexts require community to fit in to address.

The glaring question in everyone's mind is of whether the disease is a temporary hitch or a longer term crisis? Considering its outlook, the grassroots communities cannot be left out in the theorisation of the pandemic. They should fully be involved in contributing to the solution. This can allow crosspollination and reminisce of approaches through unique viewpoints, interests and skills to achieve a mutual goal of fighting the pandemic. For instance, during the past five months, from the onset of COVID 19, in Uganda, famers have been contributing by supplying food at a low cost pricing to both rural and urban settings, thereby appearing to be ‘hunger liberators' Famers have added a tremendous boost to the efforts of Ugandans to observe Standard Operating Procedures to fighting COVID 19.  What would happen if many of us were unable to feed? We thank God, for the struggle must continue.

The context 

The austerity measures recommended by National Institutes of Health and World Health Organisation; wear masks when in public, social or physical distancing, hand wash continuously, among others to save life, are strong measures to fight COVID 19; however, they are not new. Important to note is that these are good hygienic community practices. For this reason I list COVID 19 among community problems and indeed networks and structures at this level matter.. For example, when growing up at our small village, I saw people with similar disease challenges being marked and isolated, without stigmatizing or denigrating community members. Such people suffering with mumps were marked with a blue colour and a thread in the chest for purposes of prevention and avoidance of death; households with a person suffering from measles were also marked and quarantined, not even engaging in conjugal rights with their health partners. This was partly discipline! The community members would contribute food and leave it in the compounds of the affected households, so as to control the spread of such diseases while searching for what to eat. It also explains that communities know and have always practiced social distancing. Interventions for COVID 19 have demonstrated related strategies, although with little involvement of communities. However, it is for similar reasons, the world is currently wearing masks among other measures. 

Concerns for community mobilisation

Despite the fact that COVID 19 has severe consequences and fighting it is critical to the success of global development, it is engulfed with mystical and mythological views which may render it difficult to combat. In the case of Uganda, where no deaths caused by COVID 19, have been registered yet, many of us assume that COVID 19 is a Phooey and continue disregarding the SOPs set by the relevant organs. Intensive sensitisation of communities, using the community members themselves through simple tools, such as conversations, is important. This will help in changing the mindsets of individuals and wider understanding about the pandemic.

The need to mobilise community level thinking on the question of COVID, alongside current trajectories to embrace their perspectives is important to influence future policy direction. This points to some interpretation of the Uganda National Anthem; ‘Our love we give and in peace and friendship we'll live and also united, free for liberty, together we will always stand' signifies giving what we have over what we do not have as well as togetherness and unity for a common course of liberating ourselves from the pandemic. A harder question could be about the role and purpose of grassroots community in the fight of the pandemic? And a pleasant question of what revolutionary potential does the community hold?

Research shows that the vast amount of development assistance has not done away with poverty, in most developing nations (Stewart 1999; Najjuma 2016), and we should therefore, not hold hope for the same over emerging challenges. Of great privilege is the support realised from the grassroots, both in public and in private, which promises greater ability of local people to engage more directly with a common problem. This provides lessons for the promotion of a culture of giving among local populace. The need to develop local capacity to handle emergencies and disasters, as well as their own affairs is important.  

Linking with others on the continent to create buffer for such problems, defining them in terms of local needs and at the same time scan the global space is long overdue. This requires policy makers to understand community level characteristics; listen to and engage with ideas and thoughts from the grassroots; master the challenges, synthesise factors at play and organize the results to support theoretical influences. Feedback to communities will be necessary. A need to study the needs of the people; and show commitment by working with them, answers the question of empowering grassroots to contribute to community solutions. It can also help draw insights in order to address narrowed interpretations of community realities.

Drawing on a wealth of historical evidence of fighting other interruptions we have faced, such as HIV, Ebola, among others, COVID offers practioners' a frame of reference that demystifies the idea of the impossibility to fight the disease with the communities at the fore front? More research and discussion is though required. This critical and engaging practice needs to be kept alive as we fight the deadly problem. My Idea is that having sound social policy would be aided by all sectors, whereby scientific solutions are hinged on a multisectoral approach, with communities in the driving seat. As a result a more balanced assessment of the complementary role of the various actors' including community for the sustainability of the transformative work undertaken, formal and informal, to fight the pandemic, individually, collectively, nationally and globally is important.

Conclusion: Without claiming to identify and pointing at possible alternatives of community level involvement or insisting that people as participants in the fight against the COVID 19 pandemic need to collectively create themselves a worthwhile life any human being would be proud of, I hope that this writing contributes to the strategic scanning of what communities ought to contribute.

The writer is the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ndejje University