Mrs Jernita Sababalat (38 years old) from the Makukuet Hamlet, Matobe Village, Mentawai is a woman with a disability. She is a mother of 3 children. When the CDRM & CDS team visited her house, she was busy serving buyers in her small stall which is supported by CDRM & CDS in 2016 to improve the economiy of families with disabilities. This family is also supported a package to prevent transmission of COVID-19 like personal hygiene tools such as buckets, soap and masks. We also interviewed her about the pancemic of Corona Virus which occurs at this moment in all over the wolrd.
"First, I heard about Corona Virus through TV media. More and more people were infected and died. This situation scared our family of being infected by the deadly virus. We have ever heard before that there were some people have been infected ini this area. We got more scared and decided not to go out because didn't want to get infected, especially the children. They are still young and of course very vunerable. Since CDRM & CDS began to facilitated health promotion through posters, banner, hand washing simulation, and supported some personal hygiene kits such as buckets, soap and masks, the fear of the Corona virus getting down. It is not because the virus is no longer dangerous but through health promotion and personal hygiene kit make me and my family not worries of being infected as long as we follow CDRM & CDS's recommendations like keeping the distance, especially for people who come from outside, always wear a mask when go out of the house and wash hand after doing some activities. I have a small stall, means i made lot of contact with the buyers and so do when iI exchange the money with them. I advised all buyers who come to my stall to wear a mask and wash their hands with soap which is have been provided. Gratitude to CDRM & CDS, because of their supporting and assisting we know how to prevent ourselves from Corona".
Her husband, Mr. Muktar Saogo said the same thing. He shared his experience and said that "As the head of my family, who works as a farmer and having many outdoor activities go out, and meet many people who want to buy banana my garden. I cannot go home directly before i take a bath in the river which is located near my house. Its about twenty meters. I do it every time I go home to protect my family from dissemination of Corona Virus spread. Before, we did not have hand washing in front of the house but now we have it by the supported from CDRM & CDS. It makes easier for us to wash the hands every time we get back home and also for the guests who come from outside. Moreover, they equipped us with masks too made us feel protected. Therefore, the scary of the corona virus decrease as our knowledge of how to prevent it increase. Thank you very much to CDRM & CDS that had share the information on how to prevent it. More communities are aware of prvention, and hope it would less likely to be infected. Thus, I am calmer now."
CDRM & CDS also visited and interviewed an elderly woman, her named is Mrs. Ursulla (73 years old) who was also supported by a hygiene kits and mask. She said "before, I was completely unaware of the Corona pandemic. I work as usual even I have heard from the villagers, I did not take it seriously. Then there was a prohibition to worship in the Church, but I did not get clear information that the worship in the Chruch is prohibited. CDRM & CDS play a very important role to give an understanding of what Corona Virus is and how to prevent it to me. Moreover, CRDM & CDS provides me some soaps, masks and buckets. Thank you very much to CDRM & CDS for giving me an understanding of Corona Virus. So that I am more alert in preventing it as taught to me", she said in the Mentawai language.