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

The first case of COVID-19 in Africa was confirmed on 14 February 2020, and within weeks the virus had spread to every country. 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 isolating COVID-19 patients and quarantining suspected cases at home. Social distancing and lockdown measures are also being implemented to mitigate the pandemic. For IDPs and migrants, implementing these measures is more difficult due to the crowded and unhygienic conditions in which they live. In addition, many people are unaware of the existence of these guidelines, do not understand them, or are not convinced of their importance. This research will help to better understand the challenges faced by authorities and humanitarian actors in implementing public health measures in response to COVID-19, as well as the difficulties faced by IDPs and migrants in adopting these measures. It will examine the relevance of each measure to the specific context in which IDPs and migrants live and propose appropriate adjustments. Our findings will help to identify best practices and provide assistance tailored to the needs of IDPs and migrants so that they can better implement social distancing and containment measures. Our findings may contribute to increasing the adaptation of public health measures in other contexts, in order to slow down epidemics in general.