Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed, the Executive Director of Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA) provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to residents of Zoggu and Nyonlugu farming communities in the Savelugu Municipality of the Northern Region.
The package includes Veronica bucket and washing bowl, bottles of liquid soap, hand sanitizers as well boxes of tissue paper to the chiefs and residents of Zoggu and Nyonlugu.
Hajia Saeed, who is a human rights activist and a development management consultant said the gesture forms part of her contribution to the fight against the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The philanthropist also used the occasion to educate chiefs and traditional authorities at the various palaces on best hygiene practices that can help prevent the spread of the disease. She also took them through how to wash their hands properly, use of face mask and ensure social distance as directed by the health officials.
“We believe that for our country to win this deadly coronavirus battle, we as a people need to have a collective effort since government alone cannot do this, that is why we have decided to help with these items,” she said.
Hajia Saeed who is an advocate of women and girls’ empowerment said she has been working with about 150 groups of women farmers, Shea pickers and processes and agribusinesses of 30 members each and 30 other Farmer Based Organizations in the northern part of Ghana.
“Despite the training of these women and the Farmers Based Organisations (FBOs) in sustainable farm practices, environmental resources management, agribusiness enterprises, savings and loans models, leadership, and advocacy and stakeholder engagement skills to cultivate to boost food security in the area and the country, if they are not educated and protected on this pandemic, disease, the nation could be at risk,” he said.
She said her organisation has been working with all the 198 women groups who are also organized Shea producer groups to look critically at conservation, enrichment and restoration of the Shea parklands which are under threat from human activities for long term benefits.
She appealed to the residence to adopt personal hygienic lifestyle and frequent hand washing under running water, adding that they should at all times ensure physical distancing to minimize human contacts as well sanitize their hands frequently to prevent them from contracting the disease.
The chiefs of Nyonlugu and Zoggu, Sabani Mumuni and Alhassan Iddi respectively thanked thank her for her support. According to them the item came at a time to support the less privileged ones who cannot afford the items to safeguard their lives in the fight against COVID-19.
