COVID-19: IT IS DIFFICULT TO PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING IN THE MARKETS AND AT PREMIX FUEL STATIONS IN OTI

Clement Kwesi Mamadu

By: Clement Kwesi Mamadu, P4H Focal Person, Krachi East (14^th April 14, 2020)

After Ghana recorded its first few cases of Coronavirus, the president of the republic, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo issued several directives to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus. Key amongst the directives are for people to practice social distancing and wash their hands regularly with soap under running water. While the directives are generally well known by citizens, some challenges have been noticed in Oti regional capital, Dambai.

Although public education is carried out by actors such as the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on preventive protocols on radio and in mobile public addressing vans across the municipality, it has been very difficult for people to observe the social distance protocol, especially on market days, in the market and at premix fuel stations. Security services are sometimes called to control the situation but it will take more effort to enforce the social distance protocol in public places in Dambai.

A section of premix fuel buyers
at the Dambai Market |Photo: Mamadu

Street announcement by NCCE/Church of Pentecost across in Dambai |Photo: Mamadu

Hand washing is generally being practiced by people without any challenges. Individuals are now providing tippy-tap for handwashing in their homes and public places.

Activities to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus are reviewed weekly by the municipal’s Public Health Emergency Committee and other stakeholders, to identify and address protocol implementation gaps.

Practicing Hand washing under tippy tap |Photo: Mamadu