The rapid spread of COVID-19 in West and Central Africa, which has infected over 8,000 people and led to the deaths of over 200, has led to a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE).听
To enhance the availability of basic medical supplies in The Gambia, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is mainstreaming COVID-related activities into existing initiatives. As part of their reintegration assistance, 20 migrant returnees听are听producing听up to 2,000 protective suits and shoe coverings. These will be donated to the Ministry of Health for the use of frontline immigration and border officials.听
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After the prototype鈥檚 approval by The Gambia Standards Bureau (TGSB), the returnees mastered the correct technique and specifications听for听producing听protective听items. The 20 participants, most of whom were stranded in Libya and Niger, were previously trained in tailoring and received听sewing听equipment as part of their听reintegration assistance received under the EU-IOM Joint Initiative.听
鈥淭he government is currently in need of these medical supplies, so this is a very laudable initiative. It鈥檚 even more pleasing that returnees will be able to earn income from this opportunity,鈥� explained听Amadou听G.听Jallow, Standards Officer at TGSB. All produced suits and shoe coverings will be cleared by the bureau for quality assurance.听
Beyond听contributing to听The听Gambia鈥檚听COVID-19 response, this cash-for-work initiative further facilitates the reintegration of returnees with tailoring skills and businesses, as the pandemic鈥檚 widespread impact on economic activity risks听undermining听gains returnees have made in settling听in.听
鈥淭his innovative initiative utilizes the skills of returnees to meet an urgent public demand,鈥� said Fumiko Nagano, IOM鈥檚 Chief of Mission in The Gambia. 鈥淛ust as听people听around the world are working tirelessly to fight the pandemic, we are very pleased to highlight the work of these returnees in The Gambia.鈥澨�
Abdou听Magidou听Jallow, who returned from Morocco earlier this year,听lamented听the challenges brought by COVID-19.听听
鈥淚t really affected my tailoring business; we used to have a lot of customers, but now we hardly have any since many people are staying home,鈥� he听said. 鈥淭his is an opportunity for me and my fellow returnees to earn income and, at the same time, contribute toward combatting the pandemic.鈥澨�
With the help of Abdou and the other participants, frontline immigration and border officials will have an added layer of protection available to safely execute their work. As听The听Gambia shares highly porous borders with Senegal, border posts and communities are at the frontline of the pandemic,听and a key focus of听听in the country.听
IOM referred another group of returnees with tailoring skills to the International Trade Centre, which embarked on a similar initiative to produce cloth masks. Meanwhile, other Gambian returnees have taken great initiative in听.听
This initiative was supported through the听, funded by the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa. Covering 26 countries, the Joint Initiative aims to support the sustainable reintegration of returning migrants and is the first comprehensive programme to save lives, protect and assist migrants along key migration routes in Africa.听
Since 2017, IOM has assisted in the return and reintegration of over 5,000 Gambians.听
