The Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Alliance has called for the government to prioritise vaccines for field-level staff and volunteers of non-governmental organisations engaged in the Covid-19 vaccination campaign.
The work of field-level NGO staff and volunteers requires them to frequently be in the presence of other people, exposing them to a high risk of contracting Covid-19. As a result, they need to be prioritized for vaccination, the CSO Alliance said in a statement.
The alliance made the call after discussion sessions on June 26 and July 3 on strengthening its community resilience to prevent coronavirus campaign. The campaign is currently being implemented in 35 high-risk districts of the country.
Around 850 local, national, and international NGOs/CSOs attended the discussions.
On June 1, the CSO Alliance brought together 41 NGOs to collaboratively implement the community resilience initiative in 35 high-risk districts, with the aim of spreading information on coronavirus prevention, proper use of masks and vaccine registration, along with awareness messages addressing misinformation around Covid-19 and vaccination.
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A major part of the campaign entails empowering community leaders with knowledge on Covid-19 issues to ensure preventive behaviours at hotspots including mosques, transport hubs, shops, and markets.
Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon President and eminent human rights activist Sultana Kamal, PRIP Trust Executive Director Aroma Dutta, MJF Executive Director Saheen Anam, Bangladesh Mohila Parishad Executive Director Dr Maleka Banu, and Dhaka Ahsania Mission Executive Director Dr Ehsanur Rahman were among those who attended the two discussions.
ADD Country Director Shafiqul Islam, Centre for Disability in Development (CDD) Executive Director AHM Noman Khan, CUP Executive Director Khondker Rebaka Sun Yat, disability rights campaigner Monsur Ahmed Choudhuri, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum General Secretary Sanjeeb Drong, AVAS Executive Director Rahima Sultana Kazal, GHASHFUL Chief executive officer AR Jafree, and Friends In Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB) Executive Director Bazle Mostafa Razee were also in attendance.
During the discussions, field level frontline workers demanded due recognition of their role and priority for vaccination as well as provision of health safety equipment.
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PRIP Trust executive director Aroma Dutta said: “The development organisations have always complemented government efforts in any national disasters, and this is no different in Covid-19 prevention activities. I expect the organisations will continue to assist in the government's different development activities in future as well.”
CSO Alliance coordinator and former adviser to the caretaker government Rasheda K Chowdhury said: “Since the beginning of the outbreak, field-level workers engaged with different NGOs have devoted themselves to Covid-19 public awareness activities. They have always stood beside people, although their work puts them at risk of infection. We call upon the government to prioritise health and protection of the field workers.”
Eminent human rights activist Sultana Kamal said: “The fight against covid-19 is a national emergency. We have no time to rely on the government or the donor agencies. Everyone, including the NGOs, should come forward and join hands with the government in the fight against the pandemic in whatever capacity they can.”
Brac Senior Director KAM Morshed said: “Since the pandemic outbreak Brac has prioritised bringing together all the NGOs in a coordinated effort in prevention of the transmission of the disease in Bangladesh.”
The NGO and CSO leaders also stressed that public-private partnership between the NGO sector and government will make the campaign against the pandemic much stronger.