Highlights
· Owing to a fragile health system in Guinea-Bissau establishing a sanitary corridor along the border regions, the islands and the capital Bissau, continues to be a major challenge
· As a trusted partner in Guinea Bissau, UNICEF continues to perform and deliver its programme, maintaining relations with all sectors of the government, and providing technical assistance in ensuring systems are in place in case of a potential Ebola crisis
· UNICEF provides strong support to the government and people in Guinea-Bissau in Ebola prevention on several fronts. Actions this week focused on trainings in Education, Protection and C4D (Youth).
· Community engagement initiatives continued to be implemented with UNICEF support, focusing but not limited to high risk communities of Gabu and Tombali, bordering Guinea Conakry. The activities are implemented through a network of local NGOs, community based organisations, Christian and Islamic church-based organizations, the Traditional Leaders Authority, the Association of Traditional Healers PROMETRA, the taxi drivers unions SIMAPPA and community radios.
· Several meetings were held with government and civil society counterparts both in Bissau and in Gabu province, with an emphasis on securing a commitment for more thorough coordination among partners, particularly given the entry of new players in the country, and to avoid potential duplication of efforts.
· A mission to border posts with Guinea Conakry by the WASH/Emergency team found a keen need for follow-up on previous actions and deliveries. For example, while protocols are followed by border personnel, they are sometimes unpaid and unable to perform their work due to lack of transport or shelter.
· Training sessions on the Ebola education protocol in schools was undertaken in Quinará, Tombali, Gabú and Bolama/Bijagos regions for 27 regional inspectors and 1,136 teachers from 558 schools.