Melbourne’s Somali community, including in Wyndham, are taking a proactive step in safeguarding their health by co-creating a new COVID-19 health promotion to encourage locals to get booster vaccines.
The ‘Strengthening immunity in community’ initiative was created in partnership with LEXIGO, Australia’s leading translation and multicultural communication agency, and sponsored by the Department of Health and Aged Care.
The initiative was developed by the Somali community for the Somali community which considers family and doctors from within the community as the most trusted sources on COVID-19.
“When it comes to targeted health information on COVID-19, the Somali community is heavily influenced by key leaders within their own community, which is an important insight for future health initiatives targeted at this community,” said Mark Saba, CEO at LEXIGO.
“Somali locals also claimed that they would be more motivated to consider a booster if it was promoted in their own language. This highlights that in-language materials are invaluable for communicating health messages to culturally and linguistically diverse communities.”
Farah Warsame, the President of the Somali Community Inc., a non-profit supporting and representing Somali locals in Melbourne, said he feels honoured to be a part of such a vibrant community.
He admitted that when the pandemic first hit, there was some ‘chaos’ about how to tackle it, with the Somali community facing a unique set of challenges.
“What really stressed us was how to look after the vulnerable community in our area, especially those living in public housing high-rises as they needed extra support,” he said.
At the time, the Somali Community Inc. played a crucial role in disseminating accurate information, while helping to promote preventive measures and immunisation among the Somali population in Victoria.
Mr Warsame said these efforts must continue, because while many individuals do take precautions seriously, there will always be others who are hesitant due to cultural beliefs, language barriers, or misinformation.
“As you know COVID-19 isn’t gone. It’s still around, which means those communities that are more at risk still need information and support.”
The initiative is part of a series of tailored, in-language health promotions encouraging individuals to get COVID-19 boosters, with material developed in languages including Arabic, Albanian, Hmong and Assyrian.
For further information the National Coronavirus Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1800 020 080. Interpretation services are available.
