AMISOM forces in Dhobley sensitize community on COVID-19

Mogadishu, 27 April 2020—The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces in

Dhobley have handed over several boxes of hand washing soap and public sensitization
materials to members of the local community as part of their support to combat the spread
of the coronavirus.

“Today’s awareness campaign was important. We shared with members of the community
the necessary preventative measures to reduce the spread and what to do when people
start showing symptoms of the disease,” said Noor Bihi Osman, Coordinator of the
Jubbaland Ministry of Health.

Osman said with the support of AMISOM, Jubbaland authorities had put up various
measures and started an awareness campaign to educate the community on COVID-19.

The sector is under the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) and this engagement with the
community was part of their response and preparedness plan. Senior Medical Officer, Maj.
Dr. Ephantus Munyuko, said such raising and increasing awareness was important to
ensure that AMISOM forces and the community around them have the necessary
information to keep them safe and reduce the spread.

“We put up preventive measures against COVID-19, key of which is the screening of our
troops in Dhobley and all other bases. We also embarked on an extensive awareness raising
campaign with regards to preventive measures. We have built hand washing points and
we’ve showed our troops on the correct technique for hand washing. We have also
emphasized the importance of social distancing and staying at least one meter apart during
public gatherings,” Maj. Munyoki said.

In the community awareness campaign, AMISOM troops are working with the Somali
National Army (SNA) and community leaders so that they can be active participants in the
prevention and control of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Dhobley sits along the main road to the Somalia-Kenyan border and is a key transit route
for travelers. The borders remain closed. Dhobley is yet to report any COVID-19 case.