A coalition of non-governmental organisations, media, traditional leaders and other relevant bodies working in health and development have presented nose masks and hand sanitisers to vulnerable groups and individuals in the Tamale Metropolis of the Northern region to help fight against COVID-19.
The beneficiary groups were the Persons with Disability (PWDs), beggars, widows and street children within the metropolis.
The team, which thronged the streets of Tamale including the markets, distributed the nose masks and hand sanitizers to the beneficiaries and other identifiable groups as part of the social responsibility and also patriotism towards complementing government effort in curbing the spread of the disease in the country also used the occasion to showed love to them
They also used the opportunity to educate the public especially those within the markets and on the streets on the precautionary measures to take to avoid contracting or spreading of the disease.
Hajia Alima Sagito Sa-eed, Executive Director of Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA) who presented the items to the groups and the individuals at their various locations noted that anytime there is activity, the vulnerable were left behind which does not augur well for the state.
According to her, the vulnerability of the beneficiaries makes it difficult for them to afford the Personal Protective Equipment and other essentials that would help safeguard their welfare and risk to the contraction of the disease.
She urged those who detect any symptom to call the Ministry of Health dedicated lines or the National Ambulance Service for assistance. “You need to avoid close contact with anyone who had cold or flu-like symptoms and visit the nearest hospital if they had fever, cough or had difficulty in breathing,” she admonished.
Hajia Sagito also admonished the public to desist from stigmatization against person alleged of contracting the disease and their families but rather show them love and care.
She also advised the public to wash hands frequently using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue, when coughing or sneezing, and throw away the tissue into a closed bin.
She called on civil society organizations help in the combat against COVID-19 that has brought a halt to educational, religious and economic activities in the country.
