DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Situation Report # 4

Current situation – key figures (DRC Ministry of Health & World Health Organization)

215 confirmed cases in DRC

1,521,252 confirmed cases globally

20 deaths in DRC

10% Case Fatality Rate (CRF) in DRC

92,798 deaths globally

16 people recovered in DRC

376,102 people recovered globally

KEY FIGURES AND FACTS

As of 10 April 2020, there are:

• 223 confirmed cases

• 20 deaths

• 10 per cent Case Fatality Ratio (CFR)

• 16 persons recovered

• 104 suspected cases under investigation

• 139 patients progressing well

• 39 being treated in hospital

• 5 provinces affected : Kinshasa, Nord Kivu, Sud Kivu, Ituri, Kwilu

• 29 health zones affected

The province of Kinshasa continues to register the vast majority of confirmed cases (94,2%).

A total of 1,258 contacts were followed up as of 08/04/2020; 56 percent (n=700) of these were seen in the last 24 hours.

On 08/04/2020, 143 confirmed cases were being treated, 39 of which were in health facilities and 104 at home. Of the 104 confirmed cases at home, 68 are being transferred to health facilities.

56 per cent of contacts were followed up. 48 per cent of travelers were followed up. 78 per cent of alerts were investigated in the last 24 hours.

68.9 per cent of cases were male (126/183), which equals a sex ratio M/F of 2.3.

Ten health workers were among the 126 confirmed cases for which information was available, which is equivalent to 7.9 per cent of all infections.

CONTEXT OF THE COVID-19 RESPONSE

In support to the DRC Government COVID-19 response plan and within its coordination mechanism, UNICEF response strategy and interventions focuses on the following axes:

1. Risk communication & community engagement (RCCE);

2. Improving WASH and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures in health facilities and in the community;

3. Provision of supplies, medical equipment for case management;

4. Psychosocial support and continuous access to basic social services;

5. Social protection interventions to mitigate the socio-economic impact in households and Social sciences analysis.

UNICEF is working alongside the sectorial commissions in support to coordination and to promote synergies across all activities and response.

Prevention and emergency preparedness activities are being implemented in the eight priority provinces identified in the DRC government's national response plan.

Emergency response is implemented in the city of Kinshasa (currently the epicentre of the epidemic) and in the provinces following the spread of the disease, particularly at the level of health centres and maternity wards, COVID- 19 treatment centres, entry points (airport, port, border post) as well as at gathering points such as child-friendly spaces, transit and referral centres, temporary hosting structures or therapeutic feeding centres and in the community.

SUMMARY OF PREVENTION AND RESPONSE ACTIVITIES

1. Risk communication and community engagement (RCCE)

At the national level

60 additional call centre consultantsfor the COVID-19 toll-free helpline were trained with the support of UNICEF. There are now 85 consultants dedicated to answering callsfrom the public. This will allow to have 50 active telephone agents available at the same time to respond to calls in French as well as 4 national languages, therefore reducing the saturation of the helpline. According to reports received during the period covered by this SitRep, approximately 7 per cent of calls are related to alerts, including reporting suspicious cases of COVID-19 infection, seeking care and questions about rumours around the disease.

The content of the leaflets on COVID-19 was revised in all 4 national languages and French. Messages aimed at reducing discrimination against people infected with COVID-19 were added, as well as messages explaining why it is important to stay home (limitation of movement and contact between people).

The media campaign on COVID-19 awareness continues to be broadcast in 15 radio stations and 10 television channels in Kinshasa. Spots and mini-programmes are also broadcast in local radio stations in all provinces.

In the Provinces

North Kivu

• During the reporting period, spots and short programmes on COVID-19 were broadcast through 18 local radio stations in Butembo, 19 in Beni, 10 in Mangina. UNICEF partnered with the Network of Media for Development (REMED) to broadcast COVID-19 prevention.

• UNICEF distributed 6,000 posters in French, 6,000 posters in Swahili, 3,000 leaflets in French, 800 leaflets in Lingala to the Provincial Health Division of North Kivu, which will in turn distribute them to the 34 health zones of the province.

• Songs, messages from administrative and religious leaders, and radio spots in three languages (French, Lingala and Swahili) were produced and will soon be broadcast in the 32 radio channels and two local television stations in North Kivu.

• 15 religious leaders and influential leaders in North Kivu were briefed about COVID-19 with a view to get them involved in raising awareness among local population. More than 40 communication members of the several communications Task Forces in more than 10 health zones have been briefed on COVID-19 preventive measures and communication strategies.

• 19 presidents of Local Health Committees and Community Action Committee members were briefed on the importance of reporting alerts. This resulted in the report and investigation of 29 alerts.

• UNICEF briefed journalists from 18 local radio stations on COVID-19 risk communication; prevention messages were broadcast on selected radio stations in Butembo.

• 205 information sessions and 314 individual briefings on essential family practices, Ebola and COVID-19 preventive measures were conducted with 2,517 people in Beni.

• UNICEF briefed 24 members of the 12 health zones management personnel, 12 representatives from UNICEF’s implementing partners on measures to prevent COVID-19. In Mangina, almost 9,000 people have received messages on COVID-19 prevention and training sessions were conducted for over 500 Community Action Committee members.

South Kivu

• Media campaigns continue on 11 radio stations in South Kivu.

• The COVID-19 helpline was promoted by the Governor of the South Kivu province.

• Civil society organization partners (BADI, ASSOSPRODEV asbl) and Community Action Committee members raised awareness on COVID-19 among small groups of people (maximum 15) in main urban centres in South Kivu.

• COVID-19 leaflets and posters were distributed in the 34 health zones, public offices, the police and the army in South Kivu.

Ituri

• UNICEF supported the reactivation of the Communication Task Force in Ituri to ensure the coordination of communication activities and community involvement in the response to COVID-19.

• Spots and mini-programmes continue to be broadcast on 40 radio stations in Ituri.

• 57,953 travelers, 101 seminarians, 20 senior officers of the national police and 13,320 households in the health zones of Bunia, Komanda and Mambassa were reached with messages on COVID-19.

• The control points on the main roads in Ituri are being used to communicate about COVID-19 and, every day, an average of 20,000 people are being reached with such messages between Mambasa and Bunia.

• The Operational Communication Action Plan in support of the COVID-19 response in Ituri was finalized.

• 2,500 leaflets on COVID-19 to be used by the Community Relays in Ituri were printed.

• 2,500 Community Action Committee members in the health zones of Bunia, Rwampara and Nyakunde will be briefed on COVID-19 prevention messages.

• In Bunia, Community Relays are conducting home visits and reached over 6,000 families with prevention messages related to COVID-19. • UNICEF distributed non-essential food items to 1,200 displaced families in the Lita health zone on 6 and 7 April. During the distribution, messages about COVID-19 prevention were delivered by UNICEF teams. The distribution respected COVID-19 prevention measures (notably 1.5 metre distancing between beneficiaries and hand washing).

Kasaï Oriental

• COVID-19 leaflets and posters were distributed.

• Community Relays continue to raise awareness about COVID-19 prevention in the 10 health zones of the City of Mbuji-Mayi.

• UNICEF collaborated with the Congo Village School Project and the PEDI Church to raise awareness in public places in the town of Mbuji-Mayi using vehicles equipped with megaphones. Haut-Katanga, Lualaba and Haut-Lomami

• A media campaign continues on radio and television stations in the city of Lubumbashi.

• Community feedback on COVID-19 was collected through vox-pops and call-in radio broadcasts.

• Prevention messages were posted on 10 giant billboards in Lubumbashi.

• 12,000 additional posters in the three main local languages of Haut-Katanga and Haut-Lomami were distributed.

Kongo Central, Kinshasa, Kwilu, Kwango et Mai-Ndombe

• COVID-19 awareness spots were broadcast on 5 radio stations with the participation of the provincial interior and health ministers of Kwilu province. Radio spots were broadcast in 3 local languages in Kikwit. Media campaigns on COVID-19 continue on all radio stations in Kwango province, Mai-Ndombe and on TV in Kongo central.

• Comedians, musicians and communication team were briefed on the fight against COVID in Kwilu province and Kongo central.

• The provincial Governor's message on COVID-19 prevention was broadcast on all radio stations in the Kwango province.

• A COVID multisectoral committee was put in place in each territory of Kongo Central.

• 12 advocacy sessions on how to mobilise funds were conducted with the City Mayors of Matadi and Boma and 10 Territorial Administrators.

Kasaï Central

• Information posters and leaflets in Tshiluba language were distributed.

• The Governor of Kasai Central signed a provincial decree on the establishment of the committee and commissions in the context of the fight against COVID-19.

• Media campaign on preventive measures against COVID-19 disease were conducted.

Tanganyika

• 12,000 posters (6,000 in Swahili, 3,000 in French, 3,000 in Lingala) and 2,000 leaflets (1,000 in Swahili and 1,000 in French) were distributed to the provincial Ministry of Health.

• Partnership within the framework of community-based communication with PROSANI, FH, CAFID, SFCG were strengthened.

• Two advocacy meetings on resources mobilization were conducted with the political-administrative authority and the territory administrator of Kongolo.

• Messages, micro-programmes and spots on COVID-19 prevention were broadcast in 7 community radio stations.

• A briefing on COVID-19 was conducted with 75 members of the Community Action Committees.

• 329 Community Relays raised awareness of COVID-19 among 2,623 people in the health areas of Kongolo, Moba Kalemie and Nyemba.

Tshopo and Bas-Uélé

• Posters were distributed to the Mayor of Kinsagani.

• 11 journalists in Bas-Uélé were briefed on COVID-19 prevention.

• 6 radio programmes were produced, including 4 in Kisangani (Tshopo) and 2 in Buta (Bas- Uélé)

• Three spots in Lingala, Swahili and French produced by the community radio network (REMACPO) continue to be broadcast on 15 radio stations, including 5 in Bas-Uele and 10 in Tshopo

• At the request of the Governor awareness was raised among the general population in the Tshopo Province on preventive COVID-19 measures.

• 15 youth associations in Kisangani have launched awareness raising activities on COVID-19 prevention among their peers.

• Community Relays launched COVID-19 awareness raising activities in 5 health zones in Kisangani (Tshopo, Lubunga, Mangobo, Makiso-Kisangani and Kabondo) and one health zone in Bas-Uélé (Buta)

• 6 Burgomasters of the communes of Kisangani (Tshopo, Lubunga, Mangobo, Makiso, Kisangani and Kabondo) and one commune of Buta (Buta) helped place hand washing stations equipped with chlorinated water or soap in 80 public places (markets, offices, etc.).

• 4 young reporters were identified in Kisangani to produce "Covid-19 Diaries" to be shared on UNICEF social media platforms.

Equateur, Tshuapa, Mongala, Nord and Sud Ubangi

• Information posters and leaflets were received from Kinshasa and distribution in the 5 provinces will start shortly.

• Radio programmes with key messages on COVID-19 prevention are being broadcast on some local community radio stations.

2. Improved WASH and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures in health facilities and in the community

At national level

The UNICEF WASH section provides ongoing support to the IPC Commission. The section continues to participate in coordination meetings/activities with the WASH cluster and various partners in DRC.

Four partners were identified for the implementation of WASH/IPC activities in health facilities, key areas (childcare facilities, facilities for people with disabilities or the most vulnerable), as well as hygiene promotion activities.

WASH/IPC activities are expected to be launched next week.

In the Provinces

Haut-Katanga, Lualaba and Haut-Lomami

• UNICEF conducted a rapid needs assessment (WASH and health) at the second isolation site in Kasumbalesa, Haut-Katanga province.

• 2 multisectoral fact sheets (WASH, communication and health) were signed for the implementation of WASH preparation activities.

Tanganyika

• UNICEF delivered the following items to the Ministry of Health: 125 basins; 10 chorine spraying machines; 15 boxes of soap (each containing 60 units); 50 boxes of multi-purpose soap bars (each containing 10 units); 6 sachets of laundry soap, 3 200-litre capacity drums, 2 150-litre capacity buckets with tap, 3 tables, 3 20-litre capacity jerry cans, 100kg of granular chlorine HTH.

North Kivu

• The areas frequented by the two confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in Beni were disinfected.

• UNICEF helped upgrade 43 hand-washing points in public places (e.g. car parks and bus stops), in 30 public transport hubs and 8 priority health facilities identified in the city of Goma, in partnership with the National Commission for Road Prevention (CNPR) and the Programme of Promotion of Primary Healthcare (PPSSP).

• UNICEF trained health workers on prevention measures against COVID-19, in partnership with the PPSSP and Regideso (the national Water Distribution Board)

• UNICEF supplied cleaning and disinfection equipment, as well as protective equipment to the decontamination teams recruited by the Provincial Health Direction in Goma.

Ituri

• UNICEF is upgrading hand-washing stations in public places and training health personnel on specific measures to prevent COVID-19.

• UNICEF helped disinfect the isolation site where the confirmed COVID-19 case in Bunia was hosted.

Tshopo and Bas-Uélé

• More than 150 handwashing stations were set up by private services.

• 9 control points are functional: 1 at the airport in Bangboka; 4 on roads (PK 23 on the RN4, PK 23 on the RN 3, PK 232 and PK 320 in Avakubi) and 4 at the Kisangani port.

• The provincial government delivered to 50 handwashing stations to public areas.

Kongo Central, Kinshasa, Kwilu, Kwango et Mai-Ndombe

UNICEF delivered WASH supplies to Kwilu, Kwango and Central Kongo provinces. These supplies included: 1,010 pairs of boots, 1,000 pairs of gloves, 650 hand-washing buckets, 370 20-litre buckets, 300 masks, 120 boxes of toilet paper, 30 boxes of laundry soap, 76 sprayers, 25 boxes of granulated chlorine.

Equateur, Tshuapa, Mongala, Nord et Sud Ubangi

• UNICEF is supervising screening hand washing activities at 24 out of 54 identified entry points in ports and airports across the 5 provinces.

• UNICEF helped set up 13 new passenger screening points equipped with hand washing stations.

3. Supply and logistics

At national level

A shipment of 63 cubic metres of vital health supplies landed in Kinshasa on 11 April on a Belgium repatriation flight, co-financed by the European Union (EU). The equipment, which includes oxygen concentrators, basic surgery equipment, stethoscopes, medication and nutrition items such as Vitamin A, will be distributed to health centres to urgently respond to COVID-19 and other health epidemics such as measles, cholera and malaria.

In the Provinces

Tshopo and Bas-Uélé

UNICEF provided personal protective equipment to health workers in 6 isolation units in the city of Kisangani.

Haut-Katanga, Lualaba and Haut-Lomami

• UNICEF is placing pedal-activated hand washing stations in strategic sites (UNICEF office, 11 General Referral Hospitals in Lubumbashi).

• UNICEF is completing paving at the Luano/Lubumbashi isolation site. In addition, UNICEF is equipping the site with four tents to increase the isolation centre’s capacity to 38 people. The tents will soon be equipped with 18 beds, mattresses, bedding, table, plastic chair, wooden gallows, garbage cans, toilet bowls.

South Kivu and Ituri

UNICEF provided the provincial government of South Kivu with a 6 KWA generator and 1,000 litres of fuel covering more than 45 days of energy needed to light the isolation site.

4. PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT AND CONTINUED ACCESS TO BASIC SOCIAL SERVICES

4.1 Health and nutrition

At the national level

UNICEF will review the roll out of Infection Prevention and Control activities and the delivery of protective equipment to health workers in health facilities selected to treat patients infected with COVID-19.

UNICEF procured 10,000 COVID-19 tests to be handed to the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) UNICEF, in partnership with WHO, supported the analysis of the needs for COVID-19 diagnostics, the availability of tests, and the capacity of providers to carry out the collection and transfer of samples.

UNICEF, in collaboration with WHO, is planning the training of health workers deployed in health facilities on COVID- 19 care protocol, and health workers’ protection from the virus. The training includes the aspect of nutrition: ensuring that patients infected with COVID-19 and their families in isolation receive nutrition assistance.

UNICEF and the Nutrition Cluster are working with a core group of NGOs to implement a simplified and streamlined strategy for the management of acute malnutrition with the aim of improving coverage and quality of care and reducing the risk of mortality among vulnerable people. The targets and budget for these new activities were shared with OCHA to be included in the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP 2020).

In the provinces across the country, the COVID-19 Operational Response Plans are being developed to integrate the nutrition package of activities.

In the Provinces

North Kivu

• UNICEF help set up isolation sites for confirmed COVID-19 cases in the cities of Goma, Beni and Butembo.

• UNICEF delivered supplies for the management of severe acute malnutrition and for taking anthropometric measurements to ensure the continuity of care for children suffering from acute malnutrition to 6 health zones (Goma, Karisimbi, Rutshuru, Butembo, Lubero, Masisi and Mweso). These supplies included: 1,450 cartons of Plumpy Nut; 37,000 middle-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tapes for children; 11,450 middleupper arm circumference (MUAC) tapes for adults; 248 25kg scales; 57 16kg infant scales; 4,080 vials of amoxicillin syrup.

• North Kivu is implementing the deployment of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) in priority health zones to strengthen the treatment of acute malnutrition.

• Guidelines on nutrition in the context of COVID-19 were shared with cluster members and partners (NGOs and government/PRONAUT) and the Communication Task Force.

• Monitoring documents and surveillance tools, alert notification posters, case investigation sheets for COVID- 19 cases were distributed in the province's 34 health zones.

Tshopo and Bas-Uélé

• UNICEF is organizing the training of 60 health workers from 6 isolation sites in Kisangani.

• UNICEF supported the quarantine and monitoring of 17 people from countries and/or areas at risk. After completing quarantine, all 17 were released.

• Nutrition in the context of COVID-19 guidelines and messages were shared with stakeholders (government departments and NGOs).

Kongo Central, Kinshasa, Kwilu, Kwango et Mai-Ndombe

• All 5 provinces have produced their preparedness and response plans and have shared them with UNICEF.

• UNICEF has provided guidance to the 5 provinces on the identification of activities to be rolled out.

Kasaï Oriental

• UNICEF briefed 19 team leaders from the health zones of Kasaï Oriental Province.

• UNICEF delivered 10 thermoflashes, posters and leaflets in Lingala, Swahili and French, as well as 100 litres of diesel to the COVID-19 Crisis Committee via the Provincial Health Division, which acts as the technical secretariat for the COVID-19 response.

4.2 Social protection

UNICEF intends to launch a cash transfer project in urban areas, with an initial focus on 30,000 households in Kinshasa (Nsele district). The cash transfers aim to mitigate the immediate impacts of COVID-19 on children and their families by helping cushion the loss of income, especially among the poorest and most vulnerable. The cash transfer activities will also provide the opportunity to disseminate COVID-19 prevention messages in the targeted communities.

UNICEF is fundraising the US$ 6,680,000 needed for this activity.

4.3 Phycosocial support and child protection

At the national level

The child protection section begun training 40 psychologists and 41 social workers as part of the response to COVID- 19.

The psychologists will be placed within the government’s Psychosocial Commission to support activities for the care of adults and children.

The social workers will be placed within the Provincial Division of Social Affairs (DIVAS). Six of them will support the Psychosocial Commission with the referral of cases requiring social intervention. The remaining 35 will be deployed in the 35 health zones in Kinshasa to monitor the protection of children and follow up on cases related to the protection of children (e.g. violence, including gender-based violence, children living outside the family environment, including street children).

A child protection working group has been set up within the DIVAS to ensure coordination and coordination with Psychosocial Commission’s activities.

UNICEF pays the salaries of 9 psychologists and 41 social workers and provides them with IT tools (internet modem or telephone credit) and protective equipment (masks).

In collaboration with the Child Protection Cluster, a series of tools related to the COVID-19 response has been finalized and distributed to all field offices. These tools are:

1. Training modules (including modules on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse);

2. COVID-19 child protection strategy and child protection vulnerability assessment criteria;

3. Case management forms for psychologists and social workers;

4. Referral mechanisms;

5. Data collection tools with key COVID-19 indicators for child protection;

In the Provinces

North Kivu

UNICEF provided psychological support to confirmed COVID-19 cases and their families. UNICEF will also provide psychosocial support to the confirmed case’s contacts who are waiting for their results.

South Kivu and Ituri

UNICEF provided psychological support to confirmed COVID-19 cases and their families. UNICEF will also provide psychosocial support to the confirmed case’s contacts who are waiting for their results.

Haut-Katanga, Lualaba and Haut-Lomami

The Psychosocial Support Commission has been created as part of the first version of the provincial COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan.

Tshopo and Bas-Uélé

Psychosocial support was integrated in the upcoming training of 60 health workers from 6 isolation sites in Kisangani.

Equateur, Tshuapa, Mongala, Nord et Sud Ubangi

250 psychosocial workers were identified and briefed on psychosocial support to people infected and affected by COVID-19.

4.4 Education

The draft National Education Response Plan to COVID-19 is still pending validation at government level.

There are 18 million children aged 3 to 17 currently out of school due to nation-wide school closures that began on 19 March. This week, a taskforce of 12 teachers and inspectors attended a 3-day workshop respecting COVID-19 prevention measures (teachers we spread across three rooms and sitting at a distance of more than 1.5 metre from each other), organised by UNICEF and the Ministry of Health, to develop the content of homework booklets on Math, Language and History. These will cover each grade – from pre-school to secondary school – and will allow children to continue studying and preparing for exams.

Radio content for education in emergencies programmes is currently being translated into four languages (Tshiluba, Kikongo, Lingala and Swahili) before being recorded. UNICEF and the Ministry of Health have already secured slots in national, private and community-based radio stations. However, education partners are still looking for a radio channel entirely dedicated to education to broadcast the programmes.

The government, with the support of UNICEF and USAID is also reviewing and cataloguing exiting French language radio education programmes that follow the national curriculum and that are suitable to TV and radio broadcast.

Several organisations responded to UNICEF’s call on social media to share their distance learning initiatives. After watching a live demo of some of these initiatives, UNICEF launched three Congolese-based ready to use internet platforms that feature content that is relevant to the national curriculum. UNICEF will now support the Ministry of Education to develop partnership with these three platforms and encourage parents and learners to use them through TV and radio spots.

5.SUPPOR TO NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL COORDINATION AND GOVERNANCE; TECHNICAL SUPPORT

5.1 Government actions

At the national level

The Government of DRC launched its COVID-19 preparedness and response plan on 11 March 2020 (first reported case on 10 March 2020). Daily meetings are organized and chaired by Prof. Muyembe, appointed as coordinator of the COVID-19 response.

The Ministry of Health has published a draft preparedness and response plan budgeted for a total amount of US$ 135 million. The Government has set up at the national level, a multisectoral response committee for COVID-19 (CMR-COVID-19) and a Technical Secretariat for the coordination of activities that meet daily.

The CMR-COVID-19 is chaired by the Prime Minister, while the Minister of Health acts as Secretary. The Technical Secretariat is headed by a coordinator appointed by the President of the Republic. The Technical Secretariat manages the various sectoral commissions:

(i) surveillance,

(ii) medical care,

(iii) psychosocial care,

(iv) risk communication and community engagement (RCCE),

(v) infection prevention and control (IPC/WASH),

(vi) laboratory and research,

(vii) logistics,

(viii) monitoring of mitigation measures and social distancing. The coordination system will be replicated at the provincial level.

A provincial coordinating committee is chaired by the Provincial Governor assisted by the Provincial Minister of Health and the Head of the Provincial Health Division.

Presidential instructions proclaimed on 24 March 2020 will continue to be implemented country-wide until the end of the state of health emergency. The Governor of Kinshasa announced a 14-day lockdown from 6 to 20 April 2020 of the Commune de la Gombe, considered the epicentre of the epidemic in the country. The Governor said that the lockdown is intended to facilitate the task of response teams who “will conduct a search for sick people and investigate at-risk contacts and symptomatic cases for their screening and treatment." As part of the lockdown, several public buildings and hotels are being disinfected by a joint team consisting of members of the COVID-19 Response Commission in charge of Infection Prevention and Control and the Ministry of the Environment's sanitation branch.

In the provinces

North Kivu

• 8 health structures have already been identified for the care of patients infected with COVID-19 according to the national protocol. Of these, 3 have resuscitation capacities, 4 can set up isolation areas equipped according to national standards.

• The Provincial Department of Health of North Kivu has developed a provincial plan for the response to COVID-19 based on the national plan. The implementation of this provincial plan will be decentralized to the province's 34 health zones.

• The provincial government has rented a hotel in Kasindi, on the border with Uganda, for the quarantine of travelers from countries that have notified cases of COVID-19.

• The Provincial Department of Health recruited 15 UNICEF hygienists that were trained to decontaminate sites during the Ebola response and can apply their expertise to decontaminate the sites visited by confirmed and suspected of COVID-19 infection.

• Coordination meetings led by the administrative authorities of the province's health zones (Administrator of Territories, Mayors, group leaders) are held regularly and data on alerts from 16 out of 34 health zones are forwarded to the provincial level.

5.2 Coordination and partnerships

At the national level

UNICEF is supporting a study of the health and socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 in DRC and the development of the government's emergency multisectoral programme response to COVID-19. The study aims to evaluate the macroeconomic and microeconomic impacts of the new coronavirus pandemic on the Congolese economy in order to enable the country to formulate and launch, on the basis of relevant evidence, an emergency multisectoral programme to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on the living conditions of the Congolese population, in particular vulnerable groups, such as children, young people, women, and people living in remote areas.

UNICEF will also support the government to formulate its emergency multisectoral programme to respond to COVID- 19, with a budgeted action plan, on the basis of the evidence gathered by the study.

In the Provinces

North Kivu

• UNICEF has integrated COVID-19 response elements in the Education Cluster, Nutrition, Child Protection in Emergency (CPiE) and Cash working groups in North Kivu.

• UNICEF is strengthening the coordination of the WASH Cluster and has set up a communication and community engagement working group in North Kivu.

• As co-lead of the Rapid Response Working Group, UNICEF encourages the continuation of rapid response activities adapted to the COVID-19 context in North Kivu.

South Kivu and Ituri

• UNICEF participates in the meeting of the local coordination committee in Beni, which is led by the Mayor.

• In Butembo, UNICEF briefed 24 members of the 12 health zones management personnel, 12 representatives of our implementing partners and 8 leaders on the measures to prevent COVID-19.

• In Bunia, UNICEF works closely with the Governor in charge of the COVID-19 related decisions.

FINANCING THE RESPONSE

At the national level

UNICEF estimates that $58 million is required for an immediate response within its areas of responsibility. UNICEF has already allocated $5 million of its own resources to meet critical needs until additional funding is secured. More than ever, UNICEF needs flexible and timely funding to meet the most critical needs as the epidemic evolves. The UNICEF Representative in DRC has also appealed for in-kind donations.

To date, UNICEF DRC has received funding from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) to ensure continued access to basic social services for children and adolescents.

In the Provinces

Tanganyika

The province needs US$ 5,7 million to implement their planned COVID-19 related activities. The UNICEF office needs US$ 300,000 to start implementing its activities.

Haut-Katanga, Lualaba and Haut-Lomami

To date, the UNICEF Lubumbashi office has received US$ 50,000 from the national UNICEF office to implement COVID-19 related activities.

South Kivu and Ituri

• All current activities are being carried out with the use of internal resources.

• The provincial governments of South Kivu and Maniema needs US$ 3,2 million to implement COVID-19 related activities.

Equateur, Tshuapa, Mongala, Nord and Sud Ubangi

The 5 provinces need US$ 942,500 to implement their planned COVID-19 related activities.

EXTERNAL MEDIA

Since the beginning of the outbreak in DRC, the communication team posted more than 80 posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, providing information to more than 4 million people.

A quiz was conducted on UNICEF DRC's social networks, sharing key messages about prevention methods.

The COVID-19 page has been updated to include information on prevention methods and UNICEF’s support to the response.

Multimedia material was made freely available for national and international media on WeShare and disseminated through social networks.

The UNICEF Representative has talked about DRC’s preparedness to respond to COVID-19 and the urgent need for funding in his interview with BBC, Wall Street Journal, CNN and Voice of America.

Next SitRep : 17 April 2020

UNICEF Novel Coronavirus (COVID-2019) Global Appeal: https://www.unicef.org/appeals/covid-2019.html