By Mustapha Jallow
Officials at the National Council for Civil Education (NCCE) have sensitised community members of Essau, Passamass, Koina and Mandinaba on how to tackle the deadly coronavirus, known as (COVID-19).
The sensitization took the form a caravan tour organised by the NCCE to sensitise Gambians in the rural communities on the signs and symptoms of the novel virus, also known as COVID-19.
The outreach, was also meant to enlighten them on how to use the preventive measures recommended by World Health Organisation and Gambia health ministry to curb the spread of the novel virus that hit the country recently.
Voicing out the message during the caravan e, Ansumana Ceesay, senior programs officer at NCCE informed residents that coronavirus is “real & deadly.”
He said: “Take care of yourself and listen to doctors and experts rather than ordinary people, who may give you wrong information about the virus.”
He added they have distributed over one hundred buckets, metal stands and sanitary materials to local communities and major hospitals across the country.
He advised parents to control their children and ask them to stay at home. He went on to say children should be at home to read their books and watch tv, especially the lectures by officials at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
Ceesay said they do hold radio talk shows to sensitize people in different communities on Coronavirus. He said they do this using different languages to ensure everyone receive the message properly and clearly.
He said: “If you want people to wash their hands, you need to show them how to do it and provide materials for them too”.
He continued to advise the public against contact, handshakes and hugs. He further told them to avoid touching their mouth, nose and eyes.
Despite the government’s directives against gathering and social distances, according to Ceesay Gambians should respect such decisions and fight the novel virus.
The 8-days sensitization which was carried out by two separate groups of civil educators, is currently taking place in North Bank Region, Central River Region, Upper River Region and West Coast Region.
Photo credit: Mustapha Jallow
