Daniel Achiri, | Photo: Daniel

By: Daniel Achiri, Focal Person, SEND GHANA, East Mamprusi

Social distancing measures are being practiced at the health facilities in the East Mamprusi Municipal. More benches and seats have been added at the OPDs and other departments of the facilities while health personnel are arranging clients on these benches in line with the protocols of 2m spacing to ensure social distancing.

A visit to Gambaga Health Centre, Gbintiri health centre, among other facilities show that measures are being put in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the district. Apart from the spacing of clients, facilities have veronica buckets at the entrances for clients to wash their hands with soap under running water while health personnel are also sensitizing visitors to adhere to the protocols of washing their hands with running water and soap, use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, etc.

Clients at a facility in Gbintiri spaced in line with protocols |Photo: Daniel Achiri

The challenge to the fight against COVID-19, however, is the communities’ inability to adhere to preventive measures especially social distancing. Monitoring visits to Kulgona, Jerigitinga, Nagbai, and Zaari reveal overcrowding at boreholes, the only sources of potable water for residents. These places could provide fertile grounds for transmitting the disease since users do not either wash their hands with soap under running water or using alcohol-based sanitizer before alternating in holding the handles of the boreholes.

Community people fetching water at Langbinsi |Photo: Daniel