DELIVERING RESULTS IN FIGHTING COVID-19 THROUGH STRENGTHENED RCCE IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

The first COVID-19 (Disease caused due to SARS-CoV-2) case was detected in Bangladesh on 8 March 2020. The country has already accounted for over 29,127 deaths and over 1.95 million laboratory tested positive cases across the country as of 27th April, 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a major public health challenge with equally serious health and economic consequences. Not only has the health impact, the ongoing pandemic also demarcated clear lines between human-lives and livelihoods. Scientific community, with its relentless efforts, developed multiple vaccines and ‘repurposed’ clinical treatments for the COVID19; yet, the vaccination against this pathogen continues to throw a huge challenge of low uptake in many regions across the world, though Bangladesh has been relatively successful in giving wide vaccine coverage through relentless Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) strategies. It is widely acknowledged that this pandemic is primarily a ‘behavioural practices’ issue, both at individual and at community levels. Although there will always be a few hard-core ‘laggards’ who defy acceptance of any positive change. The outrage of the ‘infodemic’ (spread of misinformation during pandemic) is gaining currency especially through social media and digital space.