Accra, June 11, GNA – The Coalition of Event Managers and Suppliers has launched the Mask4ALL initiative to mobilize and distribute face masks to the vulnerable in the society who may not be able to afford them.
The initiative, which is being undertaken in partnership with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the Creative Council, aims at providing the masks and offering intensive education on the pandemic and safety protocols.
Speaking at the official launch of the project, Mr Mohammed Adjei Sowah, Mayor of the City of Accra, lauded the initiative, saying it is a good extension of the #WearYourMask Campaign launched in April.
“I am pleased with the objective of this initiative, to not only provide the masks, but offer intensive education on the pandemic and safety protocols. We did not anticipate masks to be a part of our lifestyle, but it has become a necessity as our collective safety may be dependent on our collective use of masks to avoid person to person transmission,” he said.
The Covid-19 pandemic continues sweeping through different parts of the world with staggering figures and statistics; over seven million recorded cases of infection world-wide.
Ghana’s recorded cases have already passed the 10,000 mark with 3,824 recoveries and 48 deaths.
“The right face masks has become a very important safety accessory to prevent the spread of droplets, which may be carrying the viruses. We further made the wearing of face masks mandatory in all public outings in the city.
Although a lot of local manufacturers have responded to the call to produce these masks. It is still not accessible to a good number of our citizens due to economic challenges among other challenges,” Mr Sowah said.
Mr Sowah said the pandemic had affected every aspect of lives, including; economic activities, health care, education, governance.
“Social lifestyle and interpersonal relationships have had to undergo serious modifications to ensure our survival,” he said.
Mr Sowah said the Accra Metropolitan Assembly was particularly concerned because the City of Accra and its surrounding Municipalities remained the epicenter of the Covid-19 infection in Ghana.
The Greater Accra region alone has over 60 percent of recorded Covid-19 cases and the numbers keep going up.
“The AMA continues to urge citizens to adhere to the safety protocols of social distancing, washing of hands with soap under running water and the wearing of face masks,” he appealed.
In April, the AMA #WearYourMask Campaign of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, as part of measures to help slow the rate of Covid-19 infections. It also distributed over 10,000 locally produced face masks, some PPEs, Sanitizers, food and relief items to some communities in the Metropolis and surrounding areas to help them deal with the restrictions.
“It is important that every member of our community is masked and protected, only then can we say we are all safe,” he added and commended the media and other institutions for the support to the initiative to help the nation win the fight.
Mr Astus Ahiagble, Chief Executive Officer ValueComm Consult, a member of the Coalition said the advocacy project was a contribution of the young event and media production professionals to ensure Ghanaians, especially the vulnerable were protected from the coronavirus pandemic.
GNA