The Western Regional CNC organizes a public education campaign on coronaviruses through theater

Regional news for Friday 22 January 2021

Source: GNA

01/22/2021

The Western Regional Directorate of the Center for National Culture (CNC) in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Social Welfare Development and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) have launched a series of public education campaigns on COVID-19 in some communities in the region.

Among the beneficiaries, the communities are Shama township and Anto community in Shama district where the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in the western region.

Others are Akyempim, Ateiku, Ekutuase and Atobiase, all in Wassa East district; Simpa Nsuaem, Teberebe, Essaman, Cyanide, Kyekyewere and Nsuaem in the municipality of Tarkwa-Nsuaem.

Drama has been produced on how COVID-19 is transmitted, how to protect yourself from illness, how to observe COVID-19 safety protocols, symptoms of illness, illness myths and stigma.

The drama was followed by an open forum where participants had the opportunity to pose their nagging questions which were addressed by staff from the Ghana Health Service.

Participants were also guided through the proper hand washing and disinfection processes, the proper ways to dispose of used tissues, and the proper ways to wear, remove and wash nasal masks.

Reverend Ebo Kesse, CNC Western Regional Director in his opening remarks, explained that the purpose of the campaign was to use theater to educate the public about the novel coronavirus to help stem the spread of the disease among communities.

He noted that the disease has no respect for people regardless of their political affiliation, social status, tribe or religious background, hence the need to be concerned with respecting all protocols of COVID-19 safety by all.

Nana Kyeame Isaac Mensah, who represented the community leader, found the exercise appropriate and timely, especially now that cases are increasing in the region and the country.

He called on community members to give full attention to exercise and observe the same to protect against illness.

Mrs Ellen Allotey, senior midwife at Anto CHPS Compound who moderated the open forum, led the participants to live healthily and urged them to eat lots of fruits like oranges and vegetables in particular, kontomire as well as Palm oil.

She also urged them to cut back on salt and sugar, alcohol, and foods high in fat and oil while doing brisk exercise.

Ms. Allotey indicated that the safety protocols of washing hands with soap under running water, rubbing hands with an alcohol-based disinfectant, wearing nasal masks in public places, avoiding places crowded and keeping a physical distance was the surest way to beat the disease.