The Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency Ghana (SWIDA Ghana), a gender and human advocacy organization has organized a day’s capacity-building training for staff and volunteers of nongovernmental organizations within Northern Ghana on risk reduction behaviours to abstain from contracting the coronavirus disease.
With funding support from Plan International-Ghana and Global Affairs Canada, the SWIDA training targeted 10 diversified youth groups.
It was to ensure that the participants are well-informed on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and the possible ways one can contract the virus so that they can also educate their various groups and communities on the pandemic.
The Deputy Director of Nursing Service (Public Health), Madam Elizabeth Tindana who was the key resource person for the training said that, a person can contract the disease when he/she shakes hands with an infected person, touch an object or surface where the virus has settled on or breath in a contaminated air with the coronavirus.
She mentioned high fever, coughing, sneezing and running nose as the signs that are mostly associated with people who are infected with the COVID-19 pandemic when it gets through either the nose; eyes or the mouth.
Madam Elizabeth has therefore advised people to take these signs seriously anytime they observe such changes in the system.
She also encouraged the participants to stay calm and not panic anytime they notice any of the coronavirus symptoms or they feel unwell, adding all they need to do is to remain in the house and call for healthcare support.
Madam Elizabeth further took the participants through the possible Risk Reduction Behaviours (RRB) or the COVID-19 Preventive Protocols to avoid contracting the disease.
A Health Promotion Officer, Mr. Dab Nimorious equally took the participants through how to construct a tippy tap so that they can provide that as an alternative to people who find themselves in communities where purchasing a Veronica bucket would be a burden for households.
The Executive Director of Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency Ghana (SWIDA Ghana), Hajia Alima Sagito Sa-eed thanked the participants for their usual cooperation.
She commended the staff and volunteers for the important contributions and impact they make to the programmes of the organization.
Hajia Alima reminded the participants that, “we are not in normal times, thus there is the need for us all to observe the COVID-19 preventive protocols both in the workplace and our homes”.
She also encouraged the participants to educate others as they embark on their activities in various areas and communities.
Hajia Alima assured them that SWIDA will continue to collaborate with them for effective execution of SWIDA’s deliverance to the good people of its operational areas (communities).
Meanwhile, the participants at the end of the training suggested to the Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency Ghana to train more Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and their volunteers to get the education down to the people in the communities.
CSOs, they added, should also facilitate organized groups to sensitize people on the streets, especially those selling face masks not to allow potential buyers to wear the materials before making their choice.
