Abstract
During the earlier escalation of the COVID-19 state of emergency, as uncertainty gripped the world around, local leaders in Jinja, Uganda joined the RIBHO Food and Nutrition Program to mobilize food distribution sites overnight, to serve the most vulnerable members of the community during the pandemic. As this newly forged network grappled with meeting the increasing immediate food needs of clients, they were faced with significant challenges to include disruptions in the food supply chain, cut backs in donations, and the need for personal protective equipment, cleaning products, and other protocols for the safe operations of food distribution sites, and the limited availability of volunteers (the backbone of the food distribution network), due to movement restrictions and temporary closures of public transportation. Amid these and other challenges, the network was continually forced to rethink its operations. The intent of this paper is to highlight the trends seen by a sample of food distribution sites within the network over a fifteen-month period, with a focus on the self-reported observations from nearly 350 food distributors working on the front lines during the pandemic. Self-reports illustrate some of the challenges faced by the food distribution network during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, how they adapted accordingly, and their policy level change proposal to achieve a united front against hunger during nationwide emergencies.
Presenters
Ogbochi McKinneyProfessor, Health Science, California Baptist University, California, United States Pamela Mukaire
Director of Programs, Resources for Improving Birth and Health Outcomes, Uganda
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Food bank adaptive operations COVID-19
