With the support of the Swedish embassy, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has provided water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities to Beitbridge municipality to boost its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The town situated near South Africa has had over 1,5 million cases and this resulted in the city having the highest rates ever recorded in the continent. However, because of this, Beitbridge has been viewed as a coronavirus hotspot.
Noting how many people frequent the border, the IOM and Swedish embassy launched the WASH support facility aimed at strengthening COVID-19 infection prevention and control (IPC) at the border town.
When interviewed, IOM told the press that it had donated 5 000-litre water tanks and 150 street bins to improve solid waste management in the border town.
“Prior to the installation of the barricades and social distancing markers, the infrastructure within the Beitbridge border post did not allow for a clear separation of traffic resulting in delays and congestion at clearance bays,” the IOM said.
While thanking the gesture from the IOM, Beitbridge’s environmental and health services director, Pio Muchena said the donation would go a long way in improving WASH facilities in hotspot areas frequented by the migrant population.
“The Department of Immigration was supported with the installation of barricades and social distancing markers within the immigration clearance halls.
“The support provided will address some of the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic faced, where there was increased littering along congested roads around the Beitbridge Border Post,” Muchena concluded.
