ELCZ creating awareness on COVID 19 and GBV through Posters

The Awareness Poster by the Gender Justice program in the ELCZ

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ) through its Gender Justice Desk has embarked on an intensive awareness program about the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) among the rural population, and its accompanying impact the gender-based violence (GBV). GBV is thought to be a result of COVID-19 lockdowns and job loss.

Rev. Elitha Moyo the ELCZ Gender Justice Director said the Gender Justice program has embarked on the awareness because the issue is time-sensitive, “we are giving awareness on issues of COVID-19 and GBV to all people, church and community. Hence, lockdown always emanated with children and women abuse and teenage pregnancies.”

The Gender Justice office designed a poster explaining the ills of gender-based violence and also how COVID-19 spreads. “The ELCZ Gender Justice poster is trying to address the misunderstanding of people especially Christians and the community at large. To this day, some still do not take COVID-19 seriously.” According to Rev Moyo, some Christians are “of the habit of not agreeing to follow the World Health Organisation protocol” to stop the spread of Coronavirus.

She said, “The ELCZ poster emphasizes that anyone can get the virus, Christians or non-believers, rich or poor, in the urban and in the rural areas. People need to take precautions to stop the spread of the virus.”

On the poster there are images of how to wear the facemask, hand washing and social distancing. Moyo explained, “The images help people to easily understand, especially for those who cannot read.”