District Chief Executive for the Shai Osudoku District Assembly in the Greater Accra Region, Daniel Akuffo, has appealed to the people in the district to adopt the use of face masks as a key precaution in the fight against the covid-19.

Mr. Akuffo said though a number of safety precautions had been identified as means to avoid contracting the virus, wearing of the face mask should remain an integral part of the precautionary measures to safeguard the public against contracting the virus.

He made the appeal during the launch of the ‘wear your mask against covid-19’ campaign at Asutuare on Sunday, May 3, 2020.

The event which was held at the Asutuare market as part of the Sunday market activities of the area, was largely patronized by the traders, drivers, passengers and members of the general public.

Various campaigns are being held across various parts of the country including the Shai Osudoku District in response to the novel covid19 pandemic and though the district is yet to record a case, stakeholders, including the Shai Osudoku District Assembly and health authorities are leaving nothing to chance to keep the virus at bay.

Mr. Daniel Akuffo while reminding the public of the gravity of the pandemic outlined various interventions being rolled out by the government to curb the menace.

The Assembly Chief who fell short of criminalizing the failure to adhere to the face mask wearing campaign however said the directive was mandatory and indicated the resolve of the assembly to resort to the use of the police to enforce it.

He nevertheless said massive education was ongoing across various parts of the district to ensure that people appreciate the need to wear face masks.
Mr. Akuffo advised the general public to observe all protocols being preached in the wake of the rising numbers of confirmed cases in Ghana to protect themselves against possible infection.

The DCE, as part of the campaign, demonstrated to the public the proper way to put on a face mask.

Shai Osudoku District Director of Health Services, Rev. Ebenezer Asiamah sounded a clarion call against stigmatization, discrimination and rumour mongering.

Rev. Ebenezer Asiamah while condemning acts of stigmatization and discrimination against covid19 patients and people suspected of contracting the virus said the practice could serve as a big setback towards the fight against the pandemic.

The spread of false or fake news, the health director added, could not be tolerated either as the spread of inaccurate information had the potential to distort facts and feed the general public with deceitful information which could hamper the efforts to combat the pandemic.

The health director also stressed the need to observe all precautions, adding that everybody remained a suspected case to others.

Rev. Ebenezer Asiamah in stressing the call for personal precautions noted that it was impossible to determine the covid19 status of anyone at a glance and therefore encouraged members of the public to protect themselves against others by ensuring the regular use of face masks, ensuring social distancing at all times, regular and proper handwashing, desist from touching one’s face and the use of hand sanitizers as the virus could easily be spread through the use of currency notes, especially among traders.

Traditional leaders present at the launch called on the people to obey the safety precautions as the disease is no respecter of persons.

District Director of the Shai Osudoku National Commission on Civic Education, Madam Janet Wahiermeh also spoke at the event.

Face masks were also distributed on the day to encourage the public to adopt its use.