Coronavirus: Intensify public education on nose masks wearing - ASIG

Advocate for Social Intervention Ghana (ASIG), a civil society organization dedicated to the promotion of social justice, has called for further education on the wearing of nose masks.

This, according to the organization would help the people appreciate the importance of the nose masks in the fight against the COVID-19 in the country.

A statement signed by Mr Emmanuel Arthur, Chief Executive Officer and issued in Kumasi, said it was important for all Ghanaians to know and understand when, where, and how to wear the nose masks, as a preventive measure for COVID-19.

The statement, which was in reaction to the arrest and prosecution of people found not to be wearing the nose masks, said such action would not help in the fight against the spread of the virus.

It said stigmatization associated with the pandemic had become a serious challenge in the fight against the disease in the country, and making the non-wearing of nose masks a sinful act, would aggravate the situation.

According to the statement, what the people needed was an education on why and where he or she should wear the mask since most people were finding it difficult to wear it throughout the day.

“People should be encouraged to cover their nose and mouth when they are going to have an interaction with people”, the statement pointed out.

The statement said if care was not taken, the strict enforcement of the directive would force the people to wear the masks only when they were about to meet the police or any security personnel.

It called on the government and the Ghana Health Service to strengthen public education of the preventive protocols to ensure that people understood and adhered to them without compulsion.