Shishegu (N/R), Sept 30, GNA – NORSAAC, a pro-marginalised and policy influencing non-governmental organisation, (NGO) has launched an initiative to provide food packages to vulnerable households in the Sagnarigu and Zabzugu Assemblies.
The humanitarian gesture is to support the beneficiaries’ livelihoods in the era of COVID-19.
As part of the initiative, which will run until the end of the year, about 2,400 food packages will be distributed to a total of 1,000 vulnerable households in the two Assemblies in the Northern Region to supplement their food needs.
Members of the households will receive 10 kilogrammes of rice and gallons of cooking oil.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as hand washing facilities and hand sanitisers will also be provided to some health facilities in the two Assemblies to improve on hygiene practices in line with efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
This initiative, estimated at GH¢ 177,000.00, is being implemented by NORSAAC, with support from OXFAM in Ghana, as part of its humanitarian response to the vulnerable in this era of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Alhassan Mohammed Awal, the Executive Director of NORSAAC, said at the launch of the initiative at Shishegu in the Sagnarigu Municipality on Tuesday, said it would help the vulnerable to save some money to take care of other pressing needs.
During the launch, about 400 vulnerable people in the Sagnarigu Municipality were each given 10 kilogrammes of rice and gallons of cooking oil, while the Sagnarigu Municipal Directorate of Health also received PPEs for distribution to health facilities in the area.
A similar event was held at the Zabzugu District, where about 300 vulnerable people in the area received food package as part of the launch.
Mr Awal said the COVID-19 pandemic had brought some lessons, especially on hygiene practices, saying there was the need to sustain such practices for improved health care, hence the donation of PPE to health facilities.
Mr Johnson Naapi, Programme Officer at OXFAM in Ghana, said the pandemic affected every facet of the country, including the vulnerable hence the support to them to complement government’s efforts at combating the disease.
Mr Naapi urged all to keep to the safety protocols to help fight the disease and restore life to normalcy.
Mrs Mariam Iddrisu, Sagnarigu Municipal Chief Executive, said the government supported the vulnerable in this era of the pandemic and commended NORSAAC and OXFAM in Ghana for attending to the needs of the vulnerable in the area.
Mr George Abraham, Sagnarigu Municipal Director of Health, expressed gratitude to NORSAAC for its continued support for health care delivery in the area, especially adolescent sexuality education.
Aside from this initiative, during the early stages of the pandemic, NORSAAC, with support from OXFAM in Ghana, also donated large quantities of PPE to the Sagnarigu Municipal Health Directorate for onward distribution to health facilities in the area.
Some of the vulnerable people, who received the food packages, lauded the initiative, saying it had come at the right time to relieve them from the pandemic.
GNA