UNICEF Rwanda and the National Commission for Children (NCC) have partnered to donate hand sanitizers and face masks to Inshuti z’Umuryango/Friends of the family (IZU) to tackle the Covid-29 pandemic.

Inshuti z’Umuryango are community-based child and family protection volunteers, placed in every village across the country.

The protective gears, according to officials from the two organisations, will specifically help safeguard families that these volunteers normally visit to support children in need.

The handover event took place in Rutunga sector in Gasabo District where 48 volunteers operate in 24 villages of Rutunga Sector gathered to receive the donation.

Francoise Masabo, a staff at UNICEF Rwanda commended IZU volunteers in Rutunga for their commitment to prevent and respond to violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation and all other forms of child maltreatment in their villages.

She pointed out that the results of their work motivated UNICEF and NCC to support them with personal protective equipment for coronavirus. "If you are to support families and children during this critical period of Covid-19 pandemic, you have to be very healthy.”

"You shouldn’t contract or be a reason for others to contract Covid-19. That’s why we decided to equip you with hand sanitizers and face masks so that you continue supporting children and families without any risk,” she said.

Each Inshuti y’Umuryango received one hand sanitizer and six face masks. UNICEF Rwanda handed over 20,000 bottles of hand sanitizer and 179,487 face masks worth Rwf91 million to NCC to be distributed to all IZU countrywide.

According to Janviere Nyinawumuntu, a volunteer from Kantabana village in Rutunga Sector, the equipment will facilitate them to conduct their work safely.

"With these kits from UNICEF and NCC we will serve many families and children without any concern of contracting Covid-19 or infecting others,” she noted.

Speaking at the hand over event, Naphtal Rutayisire, the National Coordinator of Inshuti z’Umuryango at NCC, called on beneficiaries to use the donation properly and keep observing Covid-19 protective measures.

"Even though we provided you with protective equipment, you have to remain vigilant by maintaining the Covid-19 prevention measures,” he told the members, encouraging them to wash hands regularly, avoid unnecessary movements, use cashless payment, and maintain physical distancing.

So far, all 30 districts have been provided with face masks for all Inshuti z’Umuryango while 19 districts have received hand sanitizers.

The distribution activity is underway with a target of donating all 29,674 Inshuti z’Umuryango operating in all villages countrywide.

Inshuti z’Umuryango is a nationwide cadre of 29,674 volunteers established in 2016 by the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) through the National Commission for Children (NCC).

This is done in collaboration with government partners including UNICEF with the aim to strengthen the child protection system in communities.

Through household visits, Inshuti z’Umuryango prevents, identifies and handles child protection concerns.

Since Covid-19 outbreak in Rwanda, Inshuti z’Umuryango have reported more than 600 child protection cases to NCC and handled some of them in close collaboration with other institutions including local leaders.

One of the IZU operating in Rutunga Sector while receiving the protective equipment for coronavirus.

Naphtal Rutayisire while showing IZU how to use hand sanitizer properly.