In Sri Lanka, the RoundTrip Foundation supports a bakery school for young women who have been victims of sexual assault and have been ostracised by their family and society.
Sri Lanka has a reasonable health care system, with functioning public and private hospitals and affordable medical care. The health system has been well prepared for coronavirus. The information has been given to the public to contact their nearest healthcare provider through a telephone call, SMS or by calling the emergency hotline. The phone system has been utilised so that each time you dial through your mobile, you get the COVID-19 prevention methods and actions for an emergency. There is a curfew imposed that is closely monitored by the police and armed forces.
At the bakery school, the students have been educated about the COVID-19 virus by being shown videos about the importance of hand washing, refraining from touching their face, social distancing and wearing face masks. The public health department guidelines were circulated as well. Students were also provided with disinfection guidelines and materials in order to be able to disinfect their environment. Physical distance is also being adhered to during lessons at the bakery school.
There is now a hand wash station outside the premises of the bakery school so that everyone can hand wash before entering the kitchen. Students have been advised to also make their own efforts to stay safe and healthy.
While the students were doing all the right things to stay healthy and not spread the virus, face masks were not available to purchase, so the school tailor-made face masks for all students and teaching staff until surgical masks are received.
The global response to the COVID-19 virus and the expected recession in the world economy could have a big impact on developing counties such as Sri Lanka. While schools are moving to online teaching, the government is getting ready for possible food shortages of imported food items and has already begun a national program to cultivate fruits and vegetables in home gardens by issuing free seeds, fertilizers etc.
The government can call for a complete lockdown in any area of the country where there appears to be an outbreak of the virus and if this happens in the area of the bakery school, then the students and teachers will patiently wait until restrictions are eased and it is safe to move around again. For the time being, everyone is doing their best to maintain practises to keep them safe.