17-06-2020 | di COOPI

Covid-19. In Peru, hygiene kits and services for Venezuelan families

In Peru, Covid-19 emergency continues. Up to today, the virus infected more than 208,000 people and caused 5,900 deaths. Notwithstanding, COOPI support continues. Thanks to the implementation of the UNICEF funded project “Supporting migrant children and their families in vulnerable conditions in the North of the country to preserve their state of health”, COOPI supported Venezuelan migrant families focusing on the importance of personal hygiene to prevent diseases and infections.

School in Zarumilla

Interventions carried out since the beginning of the project - 2018 - are a solid basis to respond to the pandemic emergency. COOPI, in collaboration with UNICEF, welcomed Venezuelan families offering a safe space where to use toilets and public showers. Moreover, COOPI distributed family or individual’s hygiene kit trying to aware families on the importance of personal hygiene, use of water and handwashing.

Hygiene services in schools

The new infrastructures built in the latest years play a fundamental role as well. COOPI built or enhanced toilets in two different schools located in Tumbes region (School n. 096 E.V. Nelly La Cotera Puel in Zarumilla district and School n. 012 E.V. Julio Noriega Espinosa in Tumbes). This intervention represents a step forward in several ways: it implies an improvement of public services, greater integration of community members (these are schools with both Peruvian and Venezuelan students) and an increase in sanitary conditions. Sanitary conditions’ improvement, indeed, guarantee the application of hygiene and prevention measures which are fundamental today where a safe return to school is essential.

Well built in the school

The project funded by UNICEF supported Venezuelan families who cross the region of Tumbes – Peru. 16,704 families (48,156 people, 11,758 girls and 12,304 boys) received family kits composed by toothbrushes, toothpaste, nail clippers, tampons, first aid kits etc. 34,687 people (8,311 girls and 8.512 boys) got access to hygiene services and public showers. Since October 2018 to May 2020, COOPI supported thousands of vulnerable Venezuelan families with children and adolescents.