Mastercard Foundation in partnership with Stratcomm Africa has intensified the COVID 19 education and sensitization in the country.
Through its #ItsUpToUs Campaign, they have sensitised and engaged members of the fishing community to continue observing the COVID-19 protocols of wearing face masks, maintaining physical distancing, regular hand sanitising and other precautions as stipulated by the Ghana Health Service to protect themselves, their families and the community with the aim of curbing the recent surge in reported cases across the country by educating local communities on ways to prevent the disease and to ensure full adherence to the COVID-19 safety protocols such as wearing facemasks, washing hands regularly with soap under running water, using alchohol-based sanitizers as well as social distancing.
A representative of Stratcomm Africa, Myra Ankrah, explained that because young people were at the heart of the Mastercard Foundation interventions when the world was confronted with COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the foundation began to partner with the local creative industry to run digital campaigns across social media, to sensitise and to encourage Ghanaians to observe and take up the COVID-19 protocols.
However, Ms. Ankrah noted that they have decided to bring the campaign to the door steps of the people to let them know the need for them not to let their guards down since the virus is still around hence the sensitization programme at Tema Newtown, being a vibrant community with many young people who needed to be educated and sensitised on how to prevent COVID-19 from disrupting their businesses and their lives
She noted that the Foundation is determined to support Ghanaians, especially the youth, to withstand and overcome the devastating short-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and also to strengthen their resilience in the long term.
Ms. Ankrah pointed out that the negative impacts of the pandemic has affected young people losing their lives, numerous older people have also been taken away through the pandemic as well as many businesses have been severely affected.
She urged all to be careful while merry making to prevent rise of the pandemic.
For his part, the Secretary of the Tema Youth Association, Enoch Tetteh-Appoe, was appreciative of the decision to educate the people through drama, optimistic that it would go a long way to reach young people in the community who were at the heart of the campaign.
A campaign ambassador, Ms Joselyn Dumas called on Ghanaians not to “drop the ball” but stick to COVID-19 safety rules as the festive season began.
Some residents of Okponglo who spoke to the media after the program expressed gratitude to the organizers and assured of promoting the lay down covid protocols during the festivity to prevent any outbreak.