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The paper explores the COVID-19 ontologies and experiences of children, youths and women in Ward 17 of rural Gwanda South. It argues that the locals have indistinct insights and perspectives on the pandemic. Most of them managed to conceptualize COVID-19 from a “realistic” and “fatalistic” standpoint. Adopting a mixed-method research design that inclines more towards a qualitative approach, data has been collected through document review that was validated with key informant interviews and questionnaire survey. Emerging from the study, the adaptation and responsiveness of youths has been blurred by lack of knowledge, indiscipline, lack of collaboration and inclusivity. Sustainability as an important element for disaster management in rural communities is obscurely being vitalized within the community. Furthermore, to ensure resilience COVID-19 responsiveness for children, youths and women within the locale has to largely depend on government, non-governmental and private structures. Therefore, the study concluded that institutions are the nucleus of health planning, in rural communities. Gwanda has limited health infrastructure, thus they are susceptible and vulnerable to disasters like COVID-19. The study recommends fostering of collaborations, partnerships, consortia, youth-driven; and women centered Volunteer Emergency Response Systems to ensure sustainability as well as strengthening of ward/village/district civil protection units or structures in the form of Disater Risk Reduction committees.
Muyambo et al. (Wed,) studied this question.