Featured Local Partner
SEARCH fights COVID-19 in Liberia
April 6, 2021
The Special Emergency Activity to Restore Children’s Hope (SEARCH) was founded in 1999 to promote and protect the rights of children affected by the armed conflict in Liberia. Since its creation, SEARCH has touched the lives of thousands of women, children, youth, and vulnerable populations across Liberia through provision of emergency relief, community health services, educational assistance, economic livelihood creation, and legal assistance.
SEARCH prides itself on a heightened understanding of the Liberian humanitarian landscape. Over the years, SEARCH has contributed to the fight against several disease outbreaks in the country. In 2014, SEARCH partnered with two civil society organizations to implement the USAID-funded Ebola Community Action Platform (ECAP) project, which enabled community-led actions to curb the spread of Ebola in 35 communities in Nimba County. The organization also strengthened community-based protection mechanisms for the empowerment of Ebola survivors by supporting 600 Ebola survivors with livelihoods grants.
When COVID-19 arrived in Liberia in 2020, SEARCH knew from its experience responding to the Ebola outbreak that the health system in Liberia could not effectively respond to the spread of COVID-19 without engaging communities in its response. Through a grant awarded by NPI EXPAND, SEARCH partnered with local community health volunteers and community leaders, women and youth groups, as well as school authorities to accelerate community participation in raising awareness of the virus, countering myths and rumors, and promoting effective measures to prevent its spread. SEARCH implemented a four-month, multi-component risk communication and community engagement project that included community forums, dialogue sessions with various community groups, radio talk shows, open air awareness campaigns, and coordination with the Nimba County Health Team. The results were impressive.
SEARCH engaged 700 school administrators, members of parent teacher associations (PTA), and students through engagement dialogues in which discussions focused on exploring fears and concerns regarding COVID-19 prevention, sharing essential information about the virus, and ensuring that school administrators and PTAs adhere to the safe school guidelines before schools reopened. SEARCH also reached 35 women’s groups (1,025 members) through 70 meetings in which discussions centered on challenges experienced by women during the height of COVID-19 pandemic and how they mitigated those challenges. Approximately 2,850 community members attended 120 community forums in which COVID-19 prevention measures were discussed. In total, more than 15,000 persons were directly reached with information on COVID-19 prevention and response. According to Sondah Geepea-Wilson, Executive Director of SEARCH, “we have made tremendous success through community engagement by giving the right information and ensuring community participation in the process. Fear is not as palpable as before.” By interacting with community members through engagement meetings and providing accurate information about COVID-19 and preventative measures, SEARCH was successful in dispelling rumors, denials, and misinformation about the virus and reinstalling confidence of the people in the health care system, which contributed to the fight against COVID-19.
Contact Information:
SEARCH House
Farngalo Avenue, Sanniquellie City
Nimba County, Liberia
Tubman Boulevard, Oldest Congo Town
Monrovia, Liberia
+231-777-113-630 / 0886-586-411