Namibia’s FLON aims to maintain unity and solidarity amid COVID-19

*The UN System in Namibia  in conjunction with the First Lady of Namibia (FLON's) Office worked in collaboration to compile this article. A special thank you to FLON and her team for this partnership.

The First Lady of the Republic of Namibia, Madame Monica Geingos is taking decisive action to build resilience and strengthen communities even after the COVID-19 pandemic. Madame Geingos believes that perseverance can be found, even in the darkest of times, “if we stand in solidarity and unite to combat COVID-19 in Namibia,” she says. Through the Office of the First Lady and the One Economy Foundation, Namibian communities are benefitting from support and technical assistance during this trying time.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed Namibians to various challenges, from worrying where their next meal will come from to struggling with anxiety, job security, income loss and general uncertainty. "The public health crises that is COVID-19 is going to manifest itself in many ways" Geingos says. She explains that there are a lot of factors such as food security, incomes and job security that can induce mental health and anxiety. These core issues branch out to Gender Based Violence (GBV) as some people are in confinement with people who are abusive. The number of Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases also fluctuated during the lockdown as a result of confinement with oppressors and abusers.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Namibia, FLON’s office have been engaging in a number of initiatives with the aim to “maintain the unity and solidarity during and after the COVID-19 pandemic,” the First Lady said. With lockdown measures in place, several frontline workers are performing vital roles in society, men and women without which, communities cannot function.

Gender Based Violence (GBV) police unit staff, Health Care workers and COVID-19 Call Centre Staff received special visits from FLON, who took a moment to motivate and encourage the staff, who are fulfilling a vital role throughout this time. FLON’s office provided lunch packs to the staff members and thanked them for their dedication and hard work.

FLON’s Office has been instrumental in the establishment of CO-Feed Namibia, a citizen driven food drive providing an organized platform for citizens and businesses to feed vulnerable households and communities, specifically those affected most by COVID-19.

"In these times everyone feels a sense of powerlessness and thus getting involved in initiatives to help where we can get our sense of power back" said the First Lady.  

The First Lady recognizes the great citizen initiative CO-Feed was a concept that veteran journalist Ms. Gwen Lister came up with. The aim of the initiative isn’t to replicate existing structures but to be a supplement. The consensus of the initiative is that it should remain a community driven programme. To date the community driven initiative has reached nearly 1000 households including vulnerable groups, elderly, children’s homes, youth, with regional roll outs underway.

The First Lady's office also launched an initiative facilitating interactive discussions on how young Namibians can deal with anxiety during the pandemic. The focus is not only on what the youth need to hear but also about what they need to say. This intervention is of particular importance in reminding young people to stay safe and sensitize them that there will be secondary effects on them as a result of the pandemic. The First Lady advices guardians and parents to talk to the youth about anxiety and how to deal with it in a constructive manner.

FLON’s work encompasses a Gender Based Violence pillar, with the knowledge that GBV has escalated, the office has taken measures to help those that find themselves within the GBV whirlwind. The alcohol-free lockdown isn't as easy for everyone as anticipated. Some individuals are functional alcoholics and the lack of thereof rises their anxiety levels compelling people with these dependencies to act out of character. The measures that the office has set up include:

• A fact sheet of contact numbers that people can call when they are in need
• Social workers available to process cases and work

In collaboration with FLON office, organizations on the frontline helping people battling with GBV, mental health or anxiety include Bel-Esprit, City Police, GBV Investigating Unit the 106-GBV helpline, UNFPA as well as private psychologists. The First Lady calls for the publics assistance to alert the police or contact the help lines if they hear a commotion at the neighbour’s house, because it does not only affect the people in the conflict but the witnesses in the house.

The One Economy Foundation has granted entrepreneurs 3-month payment holidays, which offered tremendous relief. Entrepreneurs in turn have been making masks and items which the Foundation purchased from them to be included in food parcels. Creating a much-needed income stream for entrepreneurs.

Most importantly, FLON's office has been raising public awareness on GBV amidst COVID-19, sexual GBV and child protection on radio, television and social media. Geingob’s was even seen participating in the WHO Safe hands challenge to encourage regular and safe handwashing. Through these challenging times, Namibia’s First Lady and her team remain resolute in serving Namibian communities.

Madame Geingos reminds Namibians, “COVID-19 does not worry about ethnicity or economic status and we shouldn’t either”. To the First Lady, seeing Namibians cooperating and working together to curb the pandemic has been an experience, “It shows a sense of unity, solidarity and that we can work together in times of catastrophic events”, she says.

FLON encourages Namibians to continue upholding unity and solidarity, not only during the pandemic but also after it. She urges the public to steer clear of hoax news and to stay updated with factual information about the pandemic.