Regular hand washing and social distancing are vital to containing the the COVID-19 pandemic, wherever it strikes.

In rural Malawi, Self Help Africa are distributing soap, water cans, information leaflets and other equipment to 9,000 vulnerable households, to help them withstand the approaching Coronavirus.

Although reported cases of COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa remain low, experts believe this is in part due to the severe limits on testing and diagnostics.

Cases are beginning to accelerate across a region where weak health care systems will be quickly overwhelmed.  And Malawi, with just a single doctor for every 40,000 people, the crisis could rapidly deteriorate.

Bars of soap, hand-wash, sanitary materials and jerry cans to transport and store water can help, and for as long as travel rules allow us to operate in these areas, we will continue to support the vulnerable rural communities with whom we’re working.