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Zimbabwe Association of Social Workers: Corona Virus, a Call for Social Workers and the World to unite and escalate the fight

Information Type: NewsTopic: Social Work, Covid19

March 12, 2020

The National Association of Social Workers of Zimbabwe (NASWZ) joins the world in its fight against novel Corona Virus. NASWZ urges its members in Zimbabwe and sister associations throughout the world and citizens to escalate the fight against Corona Virus by pooling expertise and resources towards preventative public health measures. Social workers are frontline workers in complementing public health interventions and this year’s International Social Workers Day theme – PROMOTING THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS perfectly attests to the need for all Social Workers across the globe and practice areas to join hands and help serve the world. The virus has given us, Social Workers, and those in other professions a strong reason to find each and collaboratively work together if we are to effectively, “ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all.

On 31 December 2019, the world woke up to a shocking discovery of an “unusual pneumonia”, later to be termed Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19/2019-nCov) in Wuhan, China. By the 9th of March 2020, the virus had spread to 87 countries, infecting 109 695 people and killing 3 811 people, 3 045 of which are in China. Due to the magnitude of its casualties and the speed of infection with which the virus is spreading within its host and across boundaries, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a, “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” NASWZ therefore joins in spirit and word the declaration by the Director General of the World Health Organization that,

“We don’t know what sort of damage this virus could do if it were to spread in a country with a weaker health system. We must act now to help countries prepare for that possibility. For all these reasons, I am declaring a public health emergency of international concern over the global outbreak of novel corona virus. The main reason for this declaration is not because of what is happening in China, but because of what is happening in other countries. Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems and which are ill prepared to deal with it”

Zimbabwe, like many other developing countries, is already struggling with a resource constrained health care system. It is rumours and lack of knowledge on COVID-19 that is worsening the vulnerability of citizens in Zimbabwe and most citizens in the developing world. It is the lack of community informed participation, fear and perceptions that need to be addressed if Zimbabwe and other developing countries are to pro-actively detect, isolate and effectively treat cases of Corona Virus. It is an overhaul of the people’s attitudes, cultural practices and public policies that will escalate the fight against the crisis. NASWZ is aware of the recent discovery and confirmation of COVID – 19 in at least 9 African countries including Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria and South Africa. The Association applauds these countries for pro-activeness in the detection and isolation of patients and urge the rest of Africa to escalate detection and preventative measures as a strategy to ring-fence their people. Such is the picture that best summarizes the urgency for professionals to join hands and fight the virus.

It is in this context that NASWZ believes and commits to facilitate public conscientization programs, strengthening multi-disciplinary collaborations and advocacy work as levers in enhancing the resilience and preparedness of governments, citizens and development partners in countries with weak health care systems.

 

Inserted by NASWZ Publicity

Call: +263 772253690

 

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Keywords: social work, Zimbabwe; CoronavirusRegion: Africa, GlobalLanguage: English

Primary Sidebar

Official IFSW statements relating to Covid-19

2 June: IFSW Call for Action on Equal Access to Vaccines

20 April: Co-building a New Eco-Social World: Leaving No One Behind. 160 Million Social Work and Health Workers Collaborate for a New World Future

4 March: Coalition of Health and Social Work International Professions Formed to Advocate for Global Equitable Access for Vaccine and to Increase health and Social Protection Workforce
English | Spanish

10 November: Practising During Pandemic Conditions: Ethical Guidance for Social Workers

4 November: To the Top of the Cliff: How social work changed with COVID-19

1 July: The Social Work Response to COVID-19 – Six Months On: Championing changes in services and preparing for long-term consequences

19 May: COVID-19: the struggle, success and expansion of social work – Rory Truell reflects on the profession’s global response, five months. English | Spanish

22 April: Weekly Report From IFSW On The Social Work Response To COVID-19: Number 5
English | Spanish

9 April: Femicides: When you live with the murderer. A reading in times of Compulsory Social Isolation

8 April: It is the time to replace models of nationalism and charity with new global ethical foundations: What the World Can Learn from International Social Work

7 April: Ethical Decision-making in the face of COVID-19

7 April: Decisiones éticas en el cotexto del Covid-19

1 April: Social Work Responds to Covid 19 – Report 3

30 March:Humaniratian request to telecomunication business owners

30 March: Pedido Humanitario a los empresarios de las Telecomunicaciones

26 March: As social workers work through the Covid 19 crisis we work towards a better world

21 March: Secretary-General report on the Social Work Response (video)

11 March: Statement on IFSW and Covid-19

1 March: Update on the Corona Virus for IFSW Members

Key documents

  • Global Definition of Social Work
  • Global Social Work Statement of Ethical Principles 
  • The Role of Social Work in Social Protection Systems
  • The People’s Charter for a New-Eco Social World

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