Including the most vulnerable in the fight against COVID-19

Humanity & Inclusion (HI) plans to ensure vulnerable individuals are included in health response to COVID-19.

COVID-19 in developing countries

Although Europe is currently at the centre of the coronavirus pandemic, more and more developing countries are affected, with three-quarters of African countries reporting cases, including Burkina Faso, Senegal and Nigeria. The first deaths have been reported in countries in the Middle East, including Egypt and Iraq, and Asia, such as the Philippines and Vietnam.

In developing countries - where health systems are faltering or have already been weakened by crisis or conflict - the spread of coronavirus threatens to create cascading health disasters.

Older people, people with disabilities, refugees, and others

HI works in more than 55 countries worldwide in support of vulnerable people with humanitarian needs. Despite coronavirus, the organisation remains committed to assisting the most vulnerable individuals, such as people with disabilities, older people, and families displaced by conflict.

Vulnerable people find it hard to access health services. People with disabilities, for example, are often excluded from emergency response actions and may not have access to prevention messages and healthcare if their country is hit by the epidemic.

Including vulnerable people in COVID-19 response

HI may call on its teams to help prevent and raise awareness of COVID-19 with local partners and in support of local authorities.

The organisation also plans to help relevant authorities and organisations include vulnerable people in the health response to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Lastly, HI is working to make awareness and prevention messages (information on the disease, hygiene rules, social distancing, the importance of confinement, etc.) accessible to vulnerable people.