The Corona crisis is spreading more and more. Attention is still focused on infections and death rates related to Covid-19 in the European area. However, the international dimensions of the dangerous virus are slowly becoming apparent. terre des hommes switzerland programme manager Gabriela Wichser provides information on the situation in the southern partner countries and explains why the crisis also presents an opportunity.
Switzerland is in crisis mode. What's on your mind right now?
Like all of us, the current situation is challenging me in my private life. But I am much more concerned with the situation of the people in those countries of the global South where we work together with local partner organisations, i.e. in Southern Africa and Latin America. I am particularly concerned about the consequences of the coronavirus epidemic for the poorest of the poor in the world.
At terre des hommes schweiz we ask ourselves: What new needs is the crisis creating in our partner countries and what measures can we as a Swiss organisation, together with our partners, take to contribute to the health and prospects of young people and their families?
How do you go about it?
We are in constant contact with our coordination offices in the project countries and with the local partner organisations in order to obtain a serious overall picture of the situation on the ground as quickly as possible. Here we are only at the beginning and unfortunately we cannot only rely on official information from the governments of those countries.
We want to know: Are the schools closed? Are the buses running? Has the government called on the population to take hygiene measures? Is the government information transparent and credible or is the health situation being played down?
We have already had to stop individual projects or we have shut down activities, for example in Peruwhere coronavirus case numbers are currently rising and the country, like Switzerland, is in lockdown mode. Schools are closed and public transport is affected. Most shops are closed and people are encouraged to stay at home.
What will be the next steps after the situation analysis?
We are in the process of developing an action plan. First of all, we need security measures for our national coordination offices, such as deputies and home offices, and in such a way that we can remain in constant contact with each other even under the new circumstances.
terre des hommes switzerland works in the field of sexual and reproductive health in southern Africa. The HIV/AIDS rates are still alarmingly high in this region of the world. What does it mean if the coronavirus pandemic affects countries like Tanzania or Zimbabwe meets?
This would be catastrophic, because the health system in southern Africa and also in Latin America cannot be compared with the Swiss health system. Let us take for example MozambiqueOne year after Cyclone Idai, many people are still living together in emergency shelters and in close quarters. How can social distancing be maintained?
The majority of people in Southern Africa have poor access to the health system. There are far too few and too few well-trained health workers. Many health facilities lack the most basic necessities, electricity, modern infrastructure and materials. Many people have no access to the health system at all.
If many people in our partner countries fall seriously ill, there will definitely be a lack of capacity to treat them. There are very few intensive care units in southern Africa. The information system is also fragile in countries that are struggling with widespread corruption and where Violence is the order of the day. Let us take Zimbabwe and NicaraguaBoth governments have not reported any cases of coronavirus infection. Here we have the impression that the state is playing down the danger.
How do you estimate the economic consequences for developing countries and regions that are or will be affected by coronavirus?
At the moment it is impossible to estimate what is still to come. But an economic crisis in the industrialised countries will hit the countries in southern Africa or Latin America, which also have international trade relations, twice over. It is probable that we will first strengthen our own system again before we invest in countries of the global South. These in turn will be further weakened by the pandemic in their own countries.
Another point is: In Southern Africa, more than half the population lives from the informal economy. They grow their own vegetables, which they sell at the market or they earn a Income with a roadside food stand. They have no insurance against unemployment or social welfare.
terre des hommes schweiz works for and with young people. During adolescence, one can be quite resistant to counselling. How do you intend to win young people in southern Africa and Latin America as role models in the fight against the spread of the epidemic and its consequences?
Exactly, it is not easy to make young people believe that they should stay at home instead of meeting with friends. Through our years of experience in youth work, we know how to work well and effectively with young people on an equal footing. For this we rely on the Peer-to-peer-approach, i.e. when young people interact with young people. This youth-centred approach, which may seem terse, can be a great strength in a crisis situation.
Finally, it is difficult to know how to do good in the current difficult and complex situation. What is your advice?
It is very important that we in Switzerland comply with the official measures. Together we have it in our hands. If we follow the instructions and show solidarity with our fellow human beings near and far, we can overcome the crisis together. We must show solidarity, especially with the elderly and with those who belong to the risk group or are ill. We can go shopping for others or call our grandmother and ask how she is doing.
But solidarity and support does not stop at the Swiss border, but is a common learning process for a healthy and just world.
In our long-standing work we strengthen young people and local communities. This often involves precisely those values that are currently booming in our society: Solidarity and helping each other out in the neighbourhood. It is overwhelming to see all the humanity happening around us. This strengthens my impression that this great crisis can also have a positive effect on a small scale.
Interview: Anna Wegelin
