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A look back: volunteering and the fight against Covid-19

ECOWAS member states have been affected to varying degrees by the COVID-19 pandemic. The contexts have also varied. Some countries have faced a security crisis, whilst others are in a relatively peaceful situation. The standard of healthcare provision also varies greatly. However, generally speaking, the types of volunteers who have been involved and continue to be involved in the fight against epidemics are: · Field volunteers: occasional, short-term, medium-term and long-term volunteers. They may or may not be specialists. · Online volunteers: These can be an effective means of supporting the fight against epidemics as they can work remotely using new information and communication technologies. Areas of involvement include raising awareness, delivering care, testing, vaccination, logistics (ambulance services, transport of supplies, vaccines and medical equipment, etc.), the disinfection of sites and homes, the mobilisation of resources, the making of masks and the preparation of disinfectant solutions, support for people in quarantine, etc. #covid19 #ecowasvolunteer