Of the 858 participants surveyed from 10 villages in Nakawa and 20 villages in Kawempe, Dr. Daniel Semakula, a Co- Investigator on the study told journalists that only 30% were positive that government can offer the necessary support to households suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
There
is very low trust among residents of Nakawa and Kawempe divisions in Kampala
city in government’s efforts to curb COVID-19, a study by Makerere University
researchers issued on Tuesday has revealed.
Of the 858 participants surveyed from 10
villages in Nakawa and 20 villages in Kawempe, Dr. Daniel Semakula, a Co-
Investigator on the study told journalists that only 30% were positive that
government can offer the necessary support to households suffering from the
effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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in: “From this we ……………
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out: …………… a very small extent,”//
Coming out at the time when there are grievances
over the recently distributed COVID-19 cash relief that was marred with
irregularities including double payment of some beneficiaries of the Shillings 53billion
meant to help the vulnerable poor whose businesses were affected by the lock
down, the population, researchers say portrayed a degree of awareness about
government programs.
Although, majority were unsure that government
is acting in the public’s best interest. Majority of the respondents were from slum areas
where researchers were among others observed access to piped water for hand
hygiene in addition to the internet and electricity for access to information
considering that updates on the disease are given via TV and Radio.
The
researchers aimed to assess prevailing attitudes and perceptions towards
COVID-19 mitigation measures and community responses to the “new social norms”
imposed by the emergency response. According to findings, dwellers least trusted
information from their local leaders and trusted more information that came
from scientists.
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in: “We asked questions ……..
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out: …………… of the public”. //
Findings like these, researchers say are
important to give healthcare managers direction on who to use for, which roles
in times of the pandemic as already they observed good will in the audience to adhere
to the Standard Operating Procedures.
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in: “There were intentions ……….
Cue out: ………….. Adhere to SOPs”. //
On his part, Prof. Nelson Sewankambo, the
Director Thrive Consortium, a think tank for health researchers, said these
findings show earlier used approaches in effectively tackling previous
outbreaks and pandemics in the country have been absent during COVID-19 in the
country.
“The top-down approach by government in implementing
COVID-19 prevention and control measures such as lock downs has been met with
stiff resistance among vulnerable communities in the two Kampala divisions”, he
said.
Adding
that “the contextually relevant community engagement model used
previously worked.” According to the researchers, success of any measures
against the COVID-19 required community participation, ownership and
sustainability of the efforts at grassroots levels.
\
This implies integrating
community communication and participation into prevention and control measures.
The study, which was funded by the government through Makerere University
Research and Innovations Fund started eight months after the pandemic was
declared in the country.
