Let’s fight Covid-19 together: NGOs to govt

NGOs and civil society groups have demanded that the government take up a long-term plan and involve the NGOs in tackling novel coronavirus that is likely to stay for long and heavily impact the lives and livelihood of people.

They said NGOs have been actively involved in the country's development process having their networks up to grassroots and they have wide range of expertise on health, education, microfinance, disaster management and livelihood programmes.

Therefore, empowering them with finance and engaging them with local government bodies could be an effective way of addressing many of the challenges arising out of the virus infection, they said at a virtual press conference yesterday.

NGO networks -- BDCSO Process, CCNF (Cox's Bazar CSO NGO Forum), Disaster Forum, National Alliance for Humanitarian Actors in Bangladesh (NAHAB) and NIRAPAD (Network for Information, Response and Preparedness, Activities on Disaster) along with ADAB (Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh) and FNB (Federation of NGOs in Bangladesh) organised it on "NGOs in Corona Response in Bangladesh".

In a presentation, Abdul Latif Khan, technical advisor of NAHAB, said until May 25, NGOs have reached 14.8 million beneficiaries with assistance. They have spent Tk 1.56 billion. Of that, 10 percent was mobilised locally.

The 212 NGOs of the networks provided assistance in 49 districts. The assistance includes creating awareness, food, health materials and cash.

NIRAPAD Programme Manager Hasina Akhter Mita said NGOs are the best organisations to reach remote areas and marginalised communities and there is no alternative to the NGOs in extending services to grassroots people. "The government should effectively engage local NGOs," she said.

ADAB Director AKM Jashim Uddin said the government must understand the benefit of involving NGOs and local government as the impact of coronavirus is long term and multifaceted. "If we are to save lives and sustain our development, the government and NGOs need to work hand in hand," he said.

Disaster Forum Member Secretary Nayeem Gowhar Warha called for strong coordination between local government and NGOs, especially in district level for long term planning and implementation of programmes required to mitigate the fallout of the pandemic.

CCNF Co-chair Abu Morshed Chowdhury said UN agencies and donor countries should provide direct funding to national and local NGOs; international aid and UN agencies should play the role of monitoring and providing technical assistance. This will help sustainability of national and local NGOs, he said.

Dr Ehsanur of NAHAB, Bimol Sarkar of CCNF and Rafiqul Islam of FNB also spoke at the event, moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of BDCSO Process.