COVID-19 in Tanzania: an interview with pre-college scholar, Keren Yahira

By Madison Job

​The COVID-19 outbreak has impacted lives worldwide. Africa’s Tomorrow serves rural African women with dreams of a socially impactful career path requiring a college degree. Hear from 21-year-old Keren Yahira from Tanzania. She has dreams of studying maternal health in school and shares her hygiene practices during the outbreak. 
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What is your understanding of this pandemic? What have you heard about COVID-19? 

Keren: “I know many people have died from this disease, and many will continue to die. It is very contagious and the world has not found a cure yet. Some people do survive, but the disease attacks weak immune systems.”

What sources are you getting your information from?

Keren: “I get my information from the mass media on television, like BBC World News.”
Do you feel you have fair access to find accurate information on the novel virus to keep yourself safe? 

Keren: “Yes. I feel I have a strong hold on this information.” 
What steps are you taking to keep yourself safe during this time? 

Keren: “I am careful not to be in close range of transmission to people. I am washing my hands thoroughly and am careful not to touch my nose or mouth. So far, I have been quarantined for 15 days since the government announced no unnecessary movement. I actually had to postpone my Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in Kenya due to the disease.”
What is the reaction to this virus in your home country? 

Keren: “It is a very serious reaction. High-ranking institutions have been shut down like schools and universities and the students are sent home.”
I see you want to study Maternal Health in school. Are the women in your community getting access to the right information? 

Keren: “Yes, we all have access to accurate information from the mass media. In my country, we hear from the President and the Prime Minister speaking on this disease. It is a very serious reaction.”

Want to learn how hygiene access during the pandemic is impacting other communities around the globe? Explore stories from our partners: 

• Africaid, working in Tanzania
• Into Your Hands Africa, working in Uganda
• MAIA, working in Guatemala
• The Chijnaya Foundation, working in Peru
• Shadhika, working in India