Implementation of public health measures for vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic in French-speaking African countries in conflict: Case study in Mali and Burkina Faso

Google translate: The first case of COVID-19 in Africa was confirmed on February 14, 2020, and within weeks the virus had spread to all countries. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could be devastating in African countries, especially those weakened by conflict, which host thousands of refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and migrants. In the absence of treatments or vaccines, governments and humanitarian actors have implemented public health measures to slow the spread of the virus. In Mali and Burkina Faso, these measures include isolation of COVID-19 patients and home quarantine of suspected cases. Social distancing and containment measures are also being implemented to mitigate the pandemic. For IDPs and migrants, the implementation of these measures is more difficult due to the crowded and unhygienic conditions in which they live. In addition, many people are not aware of the existence of these directives, do not understand them or are not convinced of their importance. This research will provide a better understanding of the challenges facing authorities and humanitarian actors in implementing public health measures in response to COVID-19, as well as the difficulties that IDPs and migrants face in adopting these measures. . It will study the relevance of each measure in relation to the specific context in which IDPs and migrants live and will propose appropriate adjustments. Our results will help identify best practices and offer assistance tailored to the needs of IDPs and migrants so that they can better apply social distancing and confinement measures. Our results may contribute to increasing the adaptation of public health measures in other contexts, in order to slow down epidemics in general.]