Voluntary Responsible Human Behavior to Mitigate the COVID-19 Pandemic: Role of Local Community Organizations in Information Sharing and Health Literacy

The COVID-19 pandemic presents a global crisis that demands a collaborative and coordinated response. National governments have applied different mitigating strategies like implementation of strict closures. In addition to government measures, it is important to urge personal responsibility for which local community organizations can play a pivotal role through well-coordinated campaigns for practical information sharing and health literacy at grassroot level. Behavioural adaptation to a novel situation is expectedly challenging. This paper considers the importance of access to reliable information in an emergency. It argues that the dissemination of transparent communication is key to combat the pandemic because informed communities are more likely to show voluntary responsible behaviour and are more receptive to the implementation of the prescribed preventive measures. This paper proposes that local community organizations should mobilize appropriately trained public-spirited mutual aid volunteers to raise awareness about personal hygiene measures and social distancing practices prescribed by the WHO and national governments. In addition to shocking people out of their complacency by highlighting the moral, ethical, practical, and legal consequences of non-compliance with the stringent infection-control mandates prescribed by national governments, community organizations should equally emphasize the significance of voluntary personal responsibility and continued individual adherence to reduce transmission.