Community Covid-19 teams - a 'shield' protecting 'green zones'

"An extended arm"

Despite living in a remote border area far from the district center, bordering Laos, Ms. Ha Thi Huong in Veu 3 village, Phuc Son commune, has long been accustomed to wearing a face mask whenever she leaves her house. Furthermore, Ms. Huong is also conscious of limiting her visits to crowded places, only going out when absolutely necessary.

Ms. Huong shared: "Due to the remote location and difficult terrain, access to information on COVID-19 prevention and control for the villagers is limited. Fortunately, thanks to the members..."Community Covid-19 Team"The local officials regularly visit homes to disseminate information and provide guidance, so people are aware of the importance of proactively preventing and controlling diseases for themselves and their families."

Mr. Lo Truong Thi, residing in Veu 3 village, Phuc Son commune, is an enthusiastic and responsible member of the community Covid-19 team in the village. Photo: Thai Hien

Although only a little over 25 years old this year, Lo Truong Thi from Veu 3 village, Phuc Son commune, is not only an energetic and enthusiastic Head of the Fatherland Front Committee and Secretary of the Youth Union branch, but also a responsible member of the community Covid-19 team in the village. Regardless of the time of day, whether it's morning, noon, afternoon, or night, or even in scorching sun or pouring rain, he and his team members go to each household to disseminate information and gather updates.

Mr. Thi shared: “The village currently has over 100 households, nearly 100% of which are ethnic Thai people. These households are scattered across many areas, and the level of education is limited. Furthermore, the ethnic minority people here have many unique customs and traditions regarding weddings, funerals, and festivals… which often involve large gatherings, making disease prevention and control efforts challenging. However, to ensure effective disease prevention, he and the 10 members of the village's community Covid-19 team divided up the responsibilities to monitor each area, directly visiting each family in the village to educate and explain to the villagers, raising their awareness of disease prevention and control; avoiding large gatherings, and adhering to the Ministry of Health's "5K" recommendations. In addition, they regularly inquire about the living conditions of families to promptly propose support from the commune when difficulties arise. Thanks to this, the villagers have responded and complied very seriously.”

Mr. Lo Truong Thi from Veu 3 village, Phuc Son commune, during a trip to promote disease prevention and control. Photo: Thai Hien

Since the beginning of July, the regular work of Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa - Secretary of the Party Branch of Hamlet 7, Phuc Son Commune, and Head of the Community Covid-19 Team of the hamlet - has been visiting families with laborers working far from home, especially in provinces affected by the epidemic, to gather and monitor their situation.

Ms. Hoa said: “The village's community COVID-19 team has 12 members. In addition to propaganda work, we assign team members to closely monitor and strictly control all citizens entering and leaving the area. When there is information about local people returning from epidemic areas or people from other places arriving, the team members always promptly grasp the situation, remind them to implement disease prevention and control measures, and notify higher authorities. Although it is hard work, the team members feel very happy and proud of the work they are doing. To some extent, we have contributed to the local authorities' efforts to control the epidemic situation to prevent community transmission and ensure the health and safety of the people.”

Prevent the Covid-19 pandemic from entering the area.

The community-based Covid-19 teams in Tao Son commune are undeterred by difficulties and hardships in strictly carrying out monitoring and dissemination of information to help people understand the disease. Photo: Thai Hien

Mr. Nguyen Cong Binh, Secretary of the Party Committee and Head of the Covid-19 Prevention and Control Steering Committee of Phuc Son commune, said: "Given the unique characteristics of Phuc Son commune as a border commune with 5 ethnic minority villages and a large geographical area, where people live scattered in some villages, access to information on disease prevention and control is somewhat limited. Therefore, Phuc Son commune has decided to focus all efforts on preventing Covid-19 from entering the area and affecting the health and lives of the people. The commune has established 17 community Covid-19 teams in the villages, each with 10-12 members. Within each team, there are many community Covid-19 groups based on neighborhood groups, with 2-3 people responsible for about 15-20 households."

Community-based Covid-19 teams remain stationed at checkpoints regardless of sunny or rainy days. Photo: Thai Hien

In particular, during the period when the district was implementing Directive 16 of the Prime Minister, Phuc Son commune established 12 commune-level control checkpoints on village roads, hamlets, and alleys. At these checkpoints, the community-based Covid-19 teams effectively played their role in strictly implementing Directive 16. With their spirit and responsibility, the community-based Covid-19 teams in Phuc Son commune truly acted as "extended arms" of the Party committee and government, making a significant contribution to improving the effectiveness of epidemic prevention and control in the locality, especially in ethnic minority areas and border regions.

"Going from street to street, knocking on every door" to disseminate information to households in the area about disease prevention and control measures, as well as specifically reviewing and monitoring each case in the commune who has traveled to, from, or arrived in areas with outbreaks, and requiring them to make health declarations... has been a familiar task for nearly two months now for the community Covid-19 teams in Tao Son commune.

The members of the community Covid-19 task force are all enthusiastic, responsible, reputable, and actively involved in village work. Photo: Thai Hien

Mr. Nguyen Trong Toan, Secretary of the Party Committee and Head of the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Tao Son commune, said: “To actively contribute to the prevention and control of the epidemic, the commune has established 28 community COVID-19 teams in 7 villages, with 106 participants. The members of these community COVID-19 teams are all enthusiastic, responsible, reputable, and actively involved in village work. Especially during the time when the commune had 3 positive cases (who had already been isolated), the team members did not hesitate to overcome difficulties and hardships to strictly monitor and educate people about the disease and implement preventive measures for themselves and the community. When the commune requisitioned 31 households as a centralized isolation point, the members of the community COVID-19 teams not only widely disseminated preventive measures but also quickly identified and identified cases requiring monitoring, surveillance, and isolation; and assisted families in purchasing essential daily necessities.” They have made a positive and effective contribution to disease prevention and control in the commune.

Community-based COVID-19 teams in Anh Son district are present everywhere to promptly disseminate information on disease prevention and control. Photo: Thai Hien

According to the assessment of the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control at all levels in Anh Son district, the disease prevention and control work in the past period has involved the entire political system, departments, and organizations, but the role of the community COVID-19 teams cannot be overlooked. Currently, Anh Son district has 530 community COVID-19 teams, operating in 155 villages, hamlets, and residential areas with 2,551 participants. Each village, hamlet, and residential area in the district has established at least one community COVID-19 team, depending on human resources, location, and population density. The teams are assigned tasks to be responsible for a number of households and individuals, monitoring the movement of each person in their assigned area.

At the same time, they went door-to-door to disseminate information, mobilize, and remind people to implement disease prevention and control measures according to regulations, following the "four on-the-spot" principle, ensuring "rapid detection, effective containment, timely isolation, swift contact tracing, screening tests, active treatment, and prevention of widespread disease spread." With the highly responsible and tireless efforts of the community-based Covid-19 teams, they created a strong foundation of public support in disease prevention, helping local Party committees and authorities at all levels to effectively carry out their tasks of disease prevention, containment, and eradication.

Community Covid-19 teams participate in manning checkpoints. Photo: Thai Hien

In the coming period, with the determination to "fight the epidemic like fighting an enemy," Anh Son district will continue to resolutely implement many comprehensive solutions, mobilizing the entire political system, community, and people to participate in the prevention and control of Covid-19. It will effectively promote the activities of community Covid-19 teams, creating consensus and joint efforts among the people in epidemic prevention and control, determined to protect and maintain the district as a safe "green zone."