COVID-19 virus outbreak has led to significant changes in daily life including recommendations for physical distancing, overall instructions to ‘stay home’ and movement restrictions that impacted everyone, everywhere in the world.
Forced to flee their homes three years ago, the 860 000 Rohingya refugees living in the densely populated camps in Cox’s Bazar face restrictions of movement that keep them away from areas greatly affected by COVID-19. Still, it remains pivotal to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission by screening people for symptoms at the multiple entry/exit points in Ukhiya and Teknaf from where life-saving humanitarian aid reaches the camps.
IOM Community Mobilizer, Ramzan Ali is checking the temperatures of tom tom passengers in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. WHO Bangladesh/Tatiana Almeida
To mitigate the risk of rapid transmission of COVID-19 in the Rohingya camps, WHO coordinated the establishment of 19 Points of Entry to proactively identify those who may be sick, refer them to health care, and prevent them from crossing a defined boundary in the camps from where it would be difficult to deter the virus should they be infected.
“Our team is here seven days a week to stop all vehicles and pedestrians. We measure people’s temperature and ask them to wash their hands, this is also an opportunity to educate people since hands hygiene is key to prevent further infections”, says Ramzan Ali, IOM Community Mobilizer.
After having his temperature checked, a pedestrian is advised to wash his hands. Hands hygiene remains an effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. WHO Bangladesh/Tatiana Almeida
“There remains genuine concern about the virus transmission, and it is our commitment to protect the Rohingya people and host communities in Cox’s Bazar from COVID-19”, explains Diana Garde from the Health Sector WHO team.
“Educators at entry points are being instrumental in the effort to sensitize and inform Rohingya refugees, host communities and humanitarians. If anyone is found febrile, the educators are well equipped to provide information about self-care, seeking medical attention and general hygiene”, she adds.
Each person entering the camps is required to have their temperature checked. When those living in the camps present fever they are immediately directed to the closest primary health care facility, while febrile visitors are kindly requested to return home and seek medical consultation.
Slowly, populations in Cox’s Bazar are getting used to the Points of Entry to the Rohingya refugee camps. 25-year-old Ramzan Ali, from Cox’s Bazar host community, is one of the many screeners helping keeping Rohingya refugees safe. WHO Bangladesh/Tatiana Almeida
Currently fully operational, the 19 points of entry in the Rohingya refugee camps are the result of a proactive and collaborative effort from Health, Education, WASH, Shelter and Site Management sectors to slow the spread of Coronavirus in the Cox’s Bazar densely populated refugee camps.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 response in Cox’s Bazar, the Health Sector prepared the concept, organized all actors and trained the screening and education staff, while the Site Management Sector assisted with volunteers and location of shelters that were built by Shelter partners.
For the Health Sector, partners continue to coordinate and oversee the operation with WASH sector ensuring adequate functioning of hand washing stations and temperature screening staff, and Education sector having mobilized its partners to provide counselling.
Since June, more than 350 000 individuals have been screened at the points of entry across the camps.
WHO team visiting the IOM Point of Entry in Teknaf to bring a new thermometer and talk with the screeners about their immediate needs. WHO Bangladesh/Tatiana Almeida