An initiative that centered on the empowerment of women in Al Hofuf.
In order to effectively combat the COVID-19 pandemic, educational messages needed to be delivered to all individuals in the El Hofuf community. Therefore, by conducting online training courses, 15 women were trained in health practices to enable them to volunteer at health facilities. Furthermore, they taught how to develop health messages for the purpose of educating their families and communities about how to cope with COVID-19. Approximately 38 written educational messages, and 2 video interviews with 2 different families addressing preventive precautions and health advices have been published on relevant social media networks
The initiative addresses themes pertinent to older populations, violence against children/women, physical activity, mental health, and food security. In particular, the initiative primarily seeks to empower women so that they are better equipped to face COVID-19. They are trained to manage their families (especially children and the elderly) by enabling them to develop relevant educational messages, including general, mental and physical health recommendations.
The initiative aimed to improve the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of members of the Al Hofuf community in terms of precautionary measures and corresponding lifestyle changes in the wake of COVID-19.
Regarding post-pandemic prospects, there are several gains achieved by the initiative that can contribute to a “better normal” of city life post-pandemic, including:
Considering that the eastern region, where El Hofuf city is located, was the first region to record COVID-19 cases in KSA, it is believed that the initiative played a role flattening the pandemic curve and decreasing the number of cases, subsequently reducing the number of deaths.