EU and WHO release comic book on COVID-19 preventive measures for children

The European Union Delegation to Kazakhstan (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Kazakhstan have released “White Capes: Fighting the Invisible” children’s comic book in Kazakhstan to showcase the importance of preventive measures for infectious diseases. The event was held in the International school of Nur-Sultan.

The book features the White Capes squad, consisting of four scientist-superheroes, who introduce WHO’s recommendations on public health and social measures (PHSM) regarding COVID-19 in an understandable and entertaining way for kids.  

As the squad is entrusted with a mission to stop the Corona King, they explain how and why people should wear face masks, regularly wash their hands, keep physical distance, and ensure ventilation in closed spaces. 

EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan Kestutis Jankauskas: "For the European Union it is important to support this project, especially in the Year of Child in Kazakhstan. The growing generation should have access to the scientifically based information, and we are happy that we managed to do it in such engaging way. We believe that our joint project with WHO will help to preserve health and event to save lives."

“This is a unique project for WHO. As an international health organization, we share technical expertise and publish guidelines. It is a new and interesting experience for us to share that knowledge and to make it accessible to other audiences. We hope that the comic book will help us promote essential preventive measures for children and their parents,” WHO Representative in Kazakhstan Caroline Clarinval said during the March 17 book presentation at the International School of Nur-Sultan.

During the event, school kids not only read the book but also participated in some practical experiments demonstrating how germs travel with a simple handshake and how people can prevent it by using the right technique of washing hands.

More than 4,000 copies of the comic book are expected to be distributed in Kazakh and Russian among more than 150 libraries of health-promoting schools in Kazakhstan. The comic book is also planned to be translated into the Armenian, Kyrgyz, and Turkmen languages.

The project is co-financed by the European Union. The initiative is part of the EU’s comprehensive Central Asia COVID-19 Crisis Response (CACCR) solidarity package, addressing the needs of Central Asian countries with a primary focus on Kazakhstan. Implemented by the WHO, the CACCR program will provide support to mitigate the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic.