Foreword by WASN Board Chairperson
The beginning of 2021 came with a bang of increased COVID-19 cases. The festive season saw many people crossing boarders from other countries to spend time with their families. According to Zimbabwe Situation Report of 5th January 2021 the country recorded 34 deaths which was the highest in a single day since March 2020 which was the outbreak of the pandemic. The public’s complacency coupled with negligence was the cause for the high numbers of COVID-19 deaths. The Zimbabwe Government immediately put strict lockdown measures with curfew to curb the spread of Coronavirus. The stringent measures coupled with wearing of masks, washing of hands or sanitizing and observing physical distancing was the way to go.
Notwithstanding COVID-19, WASN managed to carry out its activities in the remotest area of Gokwe South District in Chief Nemangwe’s area of Sesame. WASN trained community members to create support groups that enabled them to advance their right to health, ability to communicate and assert themselves, dialogues with various stakeholders and advocating for the voiceless in the community.
Gratitude to the Board of Trustees and WASN staff who have managed to work during the trying times under difficult circumstances. To the Trustees who are busy elsewhere, many thanks for actively participating in some Zoom meetings called by WASN.
Without funding from our partners Olof Palme Center and AIDS Health Foundation WASN staff would not have carried out the activities which transform the lives of so many women, girls, men and boys in the far to reach communities.