The South Dayi Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has embarked on a sensitization programme for community members and religious bodies in various communities in the District.

This forms part of the Commission’s efforts to deepen the awareness about the prevention and management of the coronavirus disease as well as enforce the adherence to the President’s directives.

Mr. Sena Bosson-Amedenu, South Dayi District Director of NCCE in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after a community engagement in Tsatee, a farming community in the District, said the education was also aimed at tackling the growing challenge of stigmatisation and urged the citizenry to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

He said some people think the disease was a hoax and only some groups of people were vulnerable to the disease and called on community members to disregard that assertion and continue to adhere strictly to all the safety protocols.

The Director noted that some individuals and families tend to face stigma in their communities, which was a challenge to the fight and would make curbing the spread of the disease difficult.

He, therefore, called on citizens to desist from such acts, adding that “anyone can be a victim”.

Mr. Bosson-Amedenu said monitoring at churches which had reopened for worship, saw that the congregants observed precautionary measures including social distancing and wearing of nose masks.

He added that some of them had no thermometer guns, while others were not in masks.

Mr. Bosson-Amedenu said the Commission educated the leaders of the churches and asked them to ensure that they acquired the gun thermometers as well as make sure that all congregants who were allowed entry into the churches for service wherein face masks.

Mr. Nelson Boamah, Catechist of the Presbyterian Church, Tsatee, on behalf of the religious bodies, expressed gratitude to the Commission for the education and appealed to the government to support the churches to fumigate their premises.

He said they were prepared to adhere to all safety protocols and would continue to educate the congregants on the disease, adding that acquisition of thermometer guns was the main challenge for most of the churches.

Mr. Bosson-Amedenu noted that public education was made possible by the Government and the Covid-19 National Trust Fund.

The Commission also carried out similar community engagements at Kpeve Newtown, Tsyokpo Kofe, Kpeve market, Peki Blengo, Peki Avetile, Tsiyenu, Adzokoe New and Old towns, Sanga and Bame.