Today’s Response To The Precautionary Measures Of Covid-19

Earlier in first wave of the covid-19 pandemic,Ghana’s response to the  covid-19 precautionary measures was addressed as the best in Africa.

The government conducted a readiness assessment and developed a strategic plan which was led by the Ghana health service to limit the spread of the virus.

Effective screening were conducted at all ports of entry as well as contact tracing for residents in Ghana. This action by the government helped in preventing the virus from spreading in communities and gatherings.

The media also played a significant role in providing citizens with information about the number of cases and educating the public through programms and advertisements on ways to protect themselves from getting infected.

Market women and all individuals who go to the market place were also abiding by the safety measures by wearing their nose mask, using their hand sanitizers and even managing to distance themselves away from other sellers at the market place to prevent the covid.

Trotro drivers,taxi drivers and passengers who used the road  all the time to their various destinations were  also following all the safety precautions whereby Veronica buckets with water, soap and even sanitizers are being placed at the entrance  of the trotro cars for passengers to wash their hands  at a loading station before their being allowed to enter the car.

Also, the number of sitting arrangements of persons in a trotro bus was limited and drivers and mates made sure that all passengers were in their mask before entering the bus.

Houses in both the rural and urban areas had veronica buckets with water, soap and sanitizers for persons and visitors who visit the house on a daily basis to wash their hands before coming into the house.

Banks, pharmacies, hospitals and schools were all following the safety protocols to help fight the covid from spreading.

Today, many  individuals don’t wear their mask and use their sanitizers when visiting a crowded place. This is as the result of people complaining about how stressful they feel when wearing the nose mask and not being able to breath well.

Again, people have the perception that, the moment they get vaccinated, there is no need to use the mask because they won’t get infected by the COVID-19 but then, getting vaccinated means one is much less likely to get sick and develop symptoms therefore it is crucial that vaccinated people keep wearing their mask to protect themselves and others.

This is as a result of the fact that, vaccinated individuals can still become infected without showing symptoms when this happens, they spread the virus to others who have not been vaccinated.

It is therefore important for all individuals at the market places, schools, offices, institutions and other public gatherings to keep following the safety precautions like they did in the first phase of the coronavirus for that is the only way to reduce the amount of virus we breath.

Furthermore, media and public communicators must keep playing their role in keeping the general public informed about the pandemic.

The media has not been consistent in providing science-driven coverage of the pandemic in Ghana. Government announcement on Covid-19 response measures and data have been presented by the media with little critical examination without a well detailed investigation on whether implementation is not just a persuasive language or impressive effect by the government.

Again, the media does not give private health professionals the platform which means there are unaddressed questions about preventive measures, PPE, testing and tracing.

There has been a shift in media coverage concerning the spread of the virus. Media outlets must continue to educate the public through advertisements and covid-19 programs but again, they must go beyond simply reporting data released from the public health.

However, there should be an in-depth reporting on the measures to limit the virus, fact checking government data, fighting community wide misinformation and also providing platforms to concerned citizens and experts to address and to discuss what the government keeps doing  to limit the virus from spreading  and to keep informing the public on the safety precautions.

Moreover, trotro drivers, passengers, schools, market-women, institutions and all individuals must keep wearing the mask, wash their hands regularly, maintain a distance of 6feet between themselves and cancel larger events in order to avoid themselves from getting infected and to help enforce physical distancing at a community level.

According to Dr.Uma Vaidyanathan, a senior consultant for fortis hospital, “No nation in the world has been able to control covid by increasing beds, oxygen, ventilators and ICU wards.The inexpensive and quickest solution is social distancing, wearing masks and maintaining high level of hygiene to stop transmission”.

The only way to stop the spread of the virus is through our  behavior. When each one of us abide by the safety measures, there will be no spread of the virus.

STORY BY: Ruby Naa Akushika Akueson

 

About the Author: Ruby Naa Akushika Akueson is a level 300 student of the Ghana institute of journalism studying B.A in communication.