Context and intervention:

The indigenous Munda community is a small ethnic group living in remote villages of Koyra Upazila in Khulna district, Bangladesh. Geography, along with chronic economic and food insecurity and marginalisation from services, have made the community particularly vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020, the Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan had also left a trail of devastation upon the community, damaging houses and washing away several embankments, leaving them doubly vulnerable. To add to this, even when some local medical facilities have been available, the Munda community has historically had to face stigma and discrimination.

IRV, with financial assistance from the SAC and MRG, conducted an awareness campaign about COVID-19 prevention strategies among the community. A needs assessment survey was also conducted, and the findings were used to prepare a situation analysis report. The report, along with a position paper, were used in advocacy efforts, for which local and national media was mobilised.

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