How Puntland COVID-19 Helpline is Helping the Government and the Public Fight the Virus

Earlier last month Shaqodoon Organisation in Collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Puntland with support from Oxfam and Golis Company has launched a toll-free emergency helpline to support the government forward preventative messages and to provide assistance to potential patients.

Since the launch and the inception of the emergency COVID19 helpline service in Puntland, it has improved the work of the ministry’s rapid response team, in tackling the novel Coronavirus.

A total of 1347 patients and potential COVID19 cases have been assisted over the helpline provided with advice and sometimes emergency medical assistance.

“The COVID19 helpline/call center helped the government of Puntland and the public in their fight against the coronavirus by providing information and counseling to the people who called the helpline or the call center” Said Abdirisak Abshir, Director of Primary Health Care of Puntland Ministry of Health, Mr. Abshir elaborated on the role of the COVID19 continuing to say “The helpline center gave the public awareness of COVID19 and health advice by conveying social distancing messages, regular hand washing and wearing protective facemasks and gloves. The health workers or the doctors in the call center gave health advice and respond to high and medium risk level patients and refer to the MoH. The center sends us the MoH everyday referral reports for the high-level risk patient to send the lab to do the testing of the COVID19.”

The center works with the MoH to track the virus and know where most of the calls are coming from as well as reporting to them if there are any spikes in certain regions and the patients who require emergency help.

We have spoken with Sagal Sheikh Mumin from Galkacayo who has been affected by the corona virus and later recoevered from it thanked the helpline center workers, the government, Shaqodoon, and the other parties involved in making this response to her situation possible.

“Thank God, I have recovered from the disease it was a scary moment in my life, secondly I would like to Thank the people who work at the ‘343′ helpline who have supported me with testing myself and provided me with advice that was crucial in my battle against the Coronavirus.

The helpline center still continues to support hundreds of people every day with advice and support and is supporting the government, track and contain the spread of the disease.