WHO strengthening community-based surveillance to address COVID-19 related rumours in the community

The last seven months have been instrumental to enhance public health and to use, adapt and strengthen the surveillance system to detect and contain the COVID-19 outbreak among the vulnerable populations in Cox’s Bazar.

With over one million people at risk in and around the world’s largest refugee camp, WHO is using all tools available to detect, isolate, test and manage suspected cases. Here, surveillance is conducted at different levels of the health care system and individuals in the community can play an important role too. They can get tested, participate in contact tracing and cluster investigations and recently they started helping to tackle rumours.

“Misinformation can spread faster than the virus itself”, says Dr Mushfique Rahman. The 30-year-old was recently appointed by WHO as one of the Camp Health Disease Surveillance Officers responsible to strengthen the COVID-19 surveillance at camp level.

“We received a community-based alert indicating an increase of deaths for unknown reasons in Camp 1E. This information is based on community rumours collected by different volunteers. Today we are set to visit about 500 households to make a rapid assessment. This will allow us to take appropriate action”, he explains.

WHO Camp Health Disease Surveillance Officer, Dr Mushfique Rahman, talking with a Rohingya family about rumours growing fast in the refugee camps - WHO/ Tatiana Almeida

WHO has provided technical input to quickly respond to rumours and promote community feedback through communication with community mechanisms and is collaborating with partners to disseminate information on preventing COVID-19 infections, including the safe use of facial masks.

“Everywhere you go in the camp you hear people saying - corona’, corona’! But it’s an invisible enemy and people know very little about it. I noticed that rumours started spreading and this is not being helpful”, explains Mohammad Nur.

Mohammed is a respected Majhi, known for helping pregnant women deliver their children safely, at health facilities. He has attended a COVID-19 training and is now playing a critical role in bringing life-saving information to the Rohingya refugees in this part of the camp.

Majhir Mohammed Nur showing the Rohingya community that washing hands in one of many ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 - WHO/ Tatiana Almeida

The spread of rumours and misinformation have created fears among the Rohingya about quarantine and isolation for COVID-19 cases and their contacts. As a result, many are avoiding health services. WHO is engaging with communities, health partners and other stakeholders to address these rumours and disseminate accurate information that helps the population prepare and protect themselves from COVID-19.

Informing elderly people, as one of the risk groups most impacted by COVID-19 around the world, is key to prevent the spread of the virus - WHO/ Tatiana Almeida

The field investigation conducted by WHO Camp Health Disease Surveillance Officers allowed to identify gaps in reporting cases and collecting information. In response, WHO is now going to strengthen the community surveillance with enhanced community engagement to address the existing fear and stigma around COVID-19.

To this date, 3617 is the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 among host and refugee communities in Cox’s Bazar.