PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION
Training, COVID-19 support and training uplifts a Pakistan slum
Photo by Khachik Simonian on Unsplash
Photo by Khachik Simonian on Unsplash
Hussain Ansari
DHOK HASSU, PAKISTAN
UN-Habitat piloted 'Pakistan COVID-19 Urban Slums Response Programme' (PCUSRP) in two urban slums of Rawalpindi with the objective to prevent spread of COVID-19 in urban slums and empowering local communities to mitigate its economic impact. Hand washing stations were installed in business areas of urban slums to increase access to preventive measures which were designed according to WHO guidelines, keeping in view the demand and sensitivity of the areas as well.
"Residents of informal settlements and slums are the hardest hit segment of the society by COVID-19 because of their overcrowding and lack of access to water and sanitation facilities for maintaining hygiene. Residents and the business community are aware of the need to keep their hands clean, but unavailability of handwashing facilities represented a barrier to handwashing. Further, there are limited economic generation opportunities in urban slums so we cannot afford to close the shops during the COVID-19 time."
"I am thankful to UN-Habitat for installing handwashing stations in the markets of urban slum. These help to protect us from COVID-19. Even small sanitary workers, including children who pick waste form the streets, are also benefiting from the installed facilities."
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