Former Chief Justice and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, National COVID-19 Trust Fund, Madam Sophia Akuffo, has intimated that, the coronavirus pandemic is still prevalent and has urged Ghanaians to keep to the COVID-19 safety protocols to mitigate its spread in the country.
Madam Akuffo was speaking at a COVID-19 Awareness Campaign in Accra, dubbed; “Mask Up, COVID-19 Down” to whip-up enthusiasm and rejuvenate adherence to the World Health Organisation and Ghana Health Service’s preventive protocols, intimated that the nature of the virus is a deadly one and admonished all to join in the fight to mitigate the virus.
“COVID-19 is real, kills, damages, and destroys, so let’s all join hands to fight it. It is unfortunate most people have given up on the protocols and the correct method of wearing of nose masks. Some wear the masks covering only their mouth or their chin leaving their nose exposed to the virus.”
Madam Akuffo, who demonstrated the proper usage of the nose mask, stated that, for its effective usage, the wearer should ensure to first bend the metallic strap on the mask to fit the nose bridge.
She encouraged children, whom she described as good at educating their peers and even adults, to get involved in the campaign and help the enforcement of the protocols.
“We must be vanguards for adhering to the COVID-19 protocols. Let us correct colleagues and adults in our communities to keep to the safety protocols.
“The more you protect yourself, the more I am protected and the more I protect myself the more you are protected.”
Speaking also at the event, Madam Edna Janet Nyame, the Executive Director, National Commission on Culture, called on parents to ensure that, as school reopens for educational activities to resume fully, their children wore the nose masks and had hand sanitizers on them as schools reopened.
She advised the youth, especially students, to observe social distancing in school and avoid the temptation of sharing their nose masks with friends.
Dr Akosua Abdalla, the Director, CYCC, said the event formed part of a Nationwide Awareness Campaign to educate the youth and the public in the fight against COVID-19.
She said the use of drama, cultural dance and puppets were amongst methods adopted to convey the message to the youth and community who were present at the campaign.
The campaign was organised by the Community Youth Cultural Centre (CYCC), under the auspices of the National Commission on Culture (NCC), and supported by the National COVID-19 Trust Fund.
Calls have been made to the general public to adhere to the safety protocols outlined by health professionals. As schools are also reopening, students have been encouraged to make sure they adhere to the measures as well since they are at a high risk of being exposed to the virus.
This comes on the back of the surge in COVID-19 cases which the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has described as dire and alarming.
