With a mission to address the COVID-19 pandemic issues, SMC’s community mobilization partner Shimantik, under the Marketing Innovations for Sustainable Health Development (MISHD) program, has organized a promotional campaigns at the ‘Grameen haat’ (rural market) to create awareness on health and hygiene among the rural communities. A total of 20 events were organized by Shimantik in five Upazilas of five districts (Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria). As a part of the awareness campaign, they decorated a promotional vehicle carrying Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) materials which was also adorned with a number of awareness messages on COVID-19. They also designed a temporary tent to organize the event at the haat. Two performers playfully communicated important information in the health sessions using the voice recorded messages.

The key communication messages that were disseminated include: use of masks, gloves, frequent handwashing with soap or using hand sanitizer, maintaining social distance, adopting healthy practices in daily life like care-seeking and refraining from harmful activities, etc. They also distributed different types of leaflets and highlighting the importance of using our products (MoniMix, SMC Zinc, Easy Clean, Germ Kill and Taste Me) which are helpful during the ongoing pandemic.

SMC’s paper soap ‘Easy Clean’ was also promoted through hand washing demonstrations in the events where approximately 1,860 community people participated. Among others, Upazila Nirbahi Officers, Upazila Health & Family Planning Officers, Union Parishad Members, Panel Chairmen, Union Parishad Chairmen, and Food Inspectors also attended the event. They also participated in the handwashing demonstration session using Easy Clean paper soap. The government officials and the local government representatives highly appreciated the initiatives and requested to organize more such activities in the communities as well.