Tremendous efforts are done by the government of Oman to combat the spread of COVID-19 in order to protect their residents, maintain their health and reduce the number of COVID-19 cases.

Ramadan is the holiest month for Muslims, in which they fast during daylight hours, congregate for prayers and share meals as a community. However, with strict regulations and physical distancing orders enforced to limit the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 disease, many of Ramadan's rituals and traditions were restricted. Many people felt that these restrictions will diminish the spirit of Ramadan. Therefore, the aim of the initiative was to provide the community with ideas and ways on how to spend time with their families and how to keep in touch with their distant family members despite the restrictions.

In addition, another challenge was the circulating rumors and false beliefs about COVID-19. The initiative responded to this by educating the community and ensuring that the correct information is delivered to them from trusted sources.

Therefore, the "We are all responsible" community-based initiative was launched with the intension of raising awareness within the community and reducing the spread of COVID-19 using the social media platforms of the Directorate General of Health Services in Al Buraimi during the holy month of Ramadan.

For Muslims, a big part of the holy month consists of social gathering and performance of a special night prayers called "taraweeh” for a large number of people. Ramadan was different this year as people are self-quarantining at home and so many places of worship are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, in order to increase the adherence of the community to the preventive measures and to avoid gathering during this month, the initiative was started with the following objectives:

1-         To educate community members about the correct measures to practice Ramadan's rituals and traditions and to avoid large gathering.

2-         To empower community members to take the responsibility assigned to them in facing and combating the spread of Virus COVID -19 through active participation in the initiative.

3-         Raise the level of public awareness on preventive and psychological and aspects of COVID-19, the ways to protect themselves and their families. As well as, responding to rumors in the community through disseminating the correct and updated information about COVID -19 from a trusted source.

The Initiative is targeting the whole community in the Governorate, so in order to deliver the correct information to a large segment of people in a safe manner and at the lowest cost, social media was selected as a method to disseminate the information. Regarding funding, this initiative was primarily funded in-kind.

In addition, educational games for children were also published through the social media channels and competing games for adults communicating different preventive messages.

The initiative also  included a link to register those wishing to donate blood through the blood bank.

Quotes from Stakeholders:

“We need to work together to reduce the risk of this virus.” Mr Khalfia Albusaidi, the Governor of Al Buraimi.

“Each individual has a role.” Mr Ahmed Alazani, a member of the Advisory Council

“We appreciate all the efforts done by the initiative.” Almanthari, citizen

The initiative sought to achieve the following goals:

1. To educate community members about the correct measures to practice Ramadan's rituals and traditions and to exercise social distancing.
2. To empower community members to assume responsibility in the fight against COVID -19 through active participation in the initiative.
3. Raise the level of public awareness on preventive and psychological and aspects of COVID-19, particularly in terms of ways to protect themselves and their families, s well as responding to rumours in the community through disseminating the correct and updated information about COVID -19 from trusted sources.

Once the initiative had taken place, good adherence of the society to precautionary measures was noted. The avoidance of gatherings during Ramadan resulted in better control of the disease with less positive cases diagnosed in the governorate.

In terms of post-pandemic prospects, this initiative and other awareness/educational initiatives helped prepare a healthy, educated, and aware community both psychologically and physically to face any pandemic.

This initiative particularly focused on promoting general personal hygiene and a healthy lifestyle. Which are key areas for prevention of COVID-19 and any other communicable disease.

Additional Results:

• This initiative and other educational activities assisted in creating a sensible and educated community about the pandemic, which has led to a degree of control over the number of COVID-19 cases.
• The initiative enabled families to enjoy a healthy, safe Ramadan.
• The initiative resulted in an increase in blood donations to the blood bank of Al Buraimi Hospital.