The Impact of Corona virus on Socialis for the Gambia Projects
Corona virus is a global pandemic that has cause havoc all over the world. It started in China and the world thought it was a Chinese virus and it was not taken seriously until it started consuming the whole world. Since then global efforts have started race against time to curb the menace but all efforts were late to stop the dreadful virus from affecting economies and social fabrics of societies. However the Gambia registered its first case on the 17th of March 2020 and the government declared a state of emergency on the 18th of March 2020, resulting to the closure of all schools and non essential services. Since the start of the state of emergency every efforts and mobilization has been put in place to curb the spread of the virus in the country, this includes closing of all churches and mosques, closing and opening times of businesses and markets, limiting number of people at gatherings to maximum 10 people as well as keeping social distancing and sensitization programs on radios and televisions. Though the measures were harsh to many average Gambians whose daily living depends on their daily selling and buying to put food on the table but eventually it is paying dividend because the Gambia is one of the country in West Africa with the lowest infection rate with only one death since the start of the virus. So far the country has registered 25 cases with one death and only 6 active cases receiving treatment as of 28th of May 2020. This number may increase but since 4 days no new infection discovered. With state of emergency been extended up the 8th of June 2020, the education sector has been seriously affected with closure of all schools since 18th March 2020. Socialis for the Gambia projects are no exception to this closure but with the intervention of government providing television and radio lessons for students, it has helped many students to tune to those stations to listen to lessons however its effectiveness is questionable as many homes have not the priviledge of owning a radio or television. For our part at Sannehmentereng some of the students who live not far from their teachers do have the advantage of getting lessons from their teachers on regular basis but also parents were urged to monitor and provide assistance to their kids at home during the lock