The Mauritius Olympic Committee has launched a coronavirus awareness campaign ©MOC

The Mauritius Olympic Committee (MOC) has officially launched a coronavirus awareness campaign in the African island nation in a bid to "sanitise" the population.

Officials from the organisation visited the SOS Children's Village in Beau-Bassin in order to spread their message among children.

COVID-19 kits were distributed which included washable masks, hand sanitiser and eco-friendly jute bags.

Soap and Allied Industries Ltd provided their assistance for the campaign.

Mauritius has so far reported more than 520 COVID-19 cases, and 10 deaths.

COVID-19 kits were distributed to children ©MOC
COVID-19 kits were distributed to children ©MOC

The country has competed at every Summer Olympic Games since Los Angeles 1984 and won a single medal, a bronze, at Beijing 2008.

Bruno Julie was the nation's history-maker after reaching the podium in the men's bantamweight boxing in the Chinese capital.

Mauritius sent a team of 12 athletes to the last Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.