While the country gears up for lockdown, a group of selfless South African women are spearheading a campaign to get sanitiser into the hands of those in rural communities, in order to help flatten the curve of COVID-19.

The campaign, #SanitizeSouthAfrica, has emerged in light of the coronavirus pandemic and the guidelines set out by the WHO.

The guidelines, which state that social distancing and hand washing are necessary to avoid contracting COVID-19, are unobtainable to the majority of South Africans.

“Most people in our country do not have running water, live with up to 15 people in one room, depend on over-crowed public transport and simply cannot afford hand-sanitiser.

“We aim to raise funds to provide sanitisation materials to our communities who do not have the luxury of self-isolating and constant hand-washing,” said Lara Brodie, founder of #SanitizeSouthAfrica in a statement.

“The funds will be used to source and distribute as much hand-sanitiser to our local communities as possible. Although it may not solve all our problems, it is a small act that can be done as a community to support our country and our people. We need to all act now. Isolate and wash your hands if you can. But also think about those who can’t,” Brodie said.

Roughly 5 000 litres of hand sanitiser has been pledged by a donor, so long as they reach their campaign’s final goal. “We need money from the fundraiser to get the 5 000 litres, so it’s important for people to know that we have supply,” said Brodie.

The campaign’s final goal is R400 000. This will be used to purchase and distribute the hand sanitiser. The campaign is starting with communities in the Western Cape and will eventually move into other parts of South Africa.

If you are able to contribute, the smallest donation will go a long way. Visit the backabuddy page here.

 

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Right now, your health as an individual depends on health of every other individual in our country. And right now, we are not safe. If our healthcare system crashes, it will affect every single one of us. The recommendations set out by the World Health Organisation are simply not possible in our country. How is someone who lives in single room with 10 other people, and who has to share a public toilet with 50 others, supposed to “self-isolate” and “wash their hands constantly”. These guidelines simply highlight the inequity in our country. Different solutions are needed. And right now. We need to, as a nation, support our local communities and provide tools and materials which can be used to maintain hygienic conditions as much as possible so that we can try and #flattenthecurve. I have decided to set up a fund-raising initiative with @backabuddy , the link is in the bio above. The funds will be used to source and distribute as much as hand-sanitizer to our local communities as possible. Although it may not solve all our problems, it is a small act that can be done as a community to support our country and our people. We need to all act now. Isolate and wash your hands if you can. But also think about those who can’t. #Covid19 #coronavirusinsa #SanitizeSouthAfrica #solidarity #community #rainbownation

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Image: Instagram/ @sanitizesouthafrica

 

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