The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has launched a nationwide programme to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.
Dubbed Peer-To-Peer Enforcement Strategy, the programme is on the theme: “Enhancing Adherence to COVID-19 Safety Protocols.”
Speaking at a stakeholders meeting in Accra yesterday to launch the programme, the Director in Charge of Health Promotion at the GHS, Dr Dacosta Aboagye, said the development of the strategy had become necessary in view of the growing cases of the disease.
He said the programme aimed at strengthening the capacity of stakeholders in the transport industry to improve the public’s understanding of risks associated with COVID-19, and mitigation measures for continued uptake of protective health behaviours, to prevent further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Aboagye added that it was also to complement the effort of the government and security agencies to ensure that, leadership of the various groups, such as transport unions, media, traders, traditional and religious leaders educate their members on the strict adherence of the COVID-19 protocols.
“So I think if we educate the populace of this, that we all have a duty in the enforcement of the COVID-19 protocols, people will accept it and obviously comply,” he said.
He assured that the GHS would continue to educate the public and engage stakeholders to ensure that there were zero cases of virus in the country.
Dr Aboagye further stated that, as part of the programme, the GHS engaged with Regional Minister and the Regional Security Council to seek their support for the exercise.
Consequently, he said the Minister had issued a statement and formed a taskforce with the Assemblies to support the exercise, adding “We are going to collaborate with the Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation to assess the impact of the programme.”
The Deputy Director in charge of Health Promotion Division at the GHS, Mrs Mabel K. Asafo in a presentation called for strong need to enhance Behaviour Change activities to restore and sustain adherence to the COVID-19 safety protocols.
“Continuous information sharing, awareness creation and community engagement will improve compliance to the protocols,” she said.
The Acting Secretary of the Ablekuma Central and South Welfare of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, Victor Ashley, commended the GHS for initiating the programme to engage with stakeholders to ensure strict adherence to the COVID-19.
He pledged that the transport unions would play their part to achieve the aim of the programme.
BY VIVIAN ARTHUR
