COVID-19, which originated in China, sparked widespread alarm and discontent around the world, with medical specialists working nonstop to gather scientific information on the virus’s origins to devise a cure and prevention strategy. Thousands of lives were lost every day, prompting a huge demand for information from the public on how to avoid this disease. This high demand for information in a situation where none was readily available resulted in the emergence of “the pandemic of disinformation,” making illness containment even more difficult. AWET therefore put-up structures in Zimbabwe’s 52 districts to counter these rumours partnering with UNICEF, complementing government efforts through MOHCC to end the pandemic.

AWET recruited and trained over 2000 Behaviour Change Facilitators (BCFs) in 52 districts who are community-based volunteers and 52 District Focal Persons (DFPs) to be spear heading awareness raising and vaccine demand creation activities. The main objective was to reach as many people as possible with information on how to prevent the spread of the vicious disease especially in churches where resistant to take up vaccines due to widespread myths and misconceptions was realized. Working towards achieving its set objectives AWET hosted interfaith leaders across the divide in Mazvikadei to share COVID-19 information, identify barriers to the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines and come up with acceptable messaging in order to have a buy-in from these influential leaders. 

Key Activities conducted by BCFs were:

1. Door to door sensitization campaigns.
   Behaviour Change Facilitators conducted awareness campaigns using the door to door approach since public gatherings were a health threat during the pandemic. Door to door campaigns gave communities ample time to ask about COVID-19 and get clarity from BCFs in the comfort of their homes. It also gave AWET insights on the people’s perceptions towards vaccine without conformity bias if the questions were to be asked in public.
2. Funeral Management
   BCFs monitored funeral proceedings, making sure the stipulated protective measures are being observed. Although it was a mammoth task BCFs made sure mourners put on their masks correctly and educated them to desist from previously practiced rituals of shaking hands , hugging , body viewing (especially when it was a confirmed COVID-19 death) as a way of comforting each other. Community leaders ( village heads) whenever there was a death in the community could call upon BCFs to manage the funerals indicative of the importance of these cadres in the community.
3. School Awareness campaigns
   The school calendar was heavily disrupted owing to COVID-19 pandemic. Due to prolonged months of closure, school gates were once again opened to create a brighter future for the young ones in the midst of the pandemic. BCFs educated students on COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour and urged them to spread the information to their parents or guardians especially the importance of vaccines. BCFs assisted in checking of temperature each morning pupils entered the school premises and also setting up of hand washing points at designated areas.
4. Awareness campaigns at public gatherings
   BCFs educated masses at public gatherings such as food and agriculture input distribution places, community meetings, market places, churches so that no one was left behind.
   Community Feedback Mechanism

Being the ears, eyes and mouth during the COVID-19 pandemic under the RCCE pillar, AWET invested in training its 52 district focal person on community feedback mechanism using the most updated digital platform KOBO collect application moving from paper based data collection methods. The training which was facilitated by RCCE collective services saw District Focal Persons being equipped with tablets for data collection. This made the response to be fast and efficient as feedback was now being coded according to type (Rumours, suggestions, questions, appreciation, sensitive) and data verification. Community Feedback Mechanism yielded the following results:

• Through CFM, myths and misconceptions were demystified 
• CFM countered rumors circulating on social media
• CFM helped people practice key public health recommendations to protect themselves and those around them 
• Hearing the voices of the people and acting upon them helped a lot as people appreciated the program more than before since now, they felt that they are part of the decision making.
• Through CFM, the government considered outreach vaccination as a response to suggestions made by communities hence increasing the uptake of vaccines
  Although program funding ended in December 2021, AWET BCFs are still carrying out their duties in communities under community ownership in order to save lives in their community with a zeal to expand their reach if funds are made available.