Daily meals and housing for 20 mentally ill people, others in the streets - Gender ministry

As part of efforts to fend for the vulnerable in society during the partial lockdown period, government, through the Gender, Women and Social Protection Ministry is making provision for mentally deranged persons in society.

Speaking at a briefing Wednesday morning, Gender Minister, Cynthia Morrison announced that 20 of these persons on the streets will be taken, cleaned, housed and fed by government, at a provided facility over the period and beyond. This she explained is resultant of the limitations as far as housing space is concerned.

Beyond that, however, she explained each mentally deranged person on the street will have access to daily provision of food by the Ministry which will go round parts of the Greater Accra Region and the Ashanti Region, in affected areas, to ensure these vulnerable persons are also catered for.

This forms part of government’s efforts to cater for the homeless during the lockdown period.

Meanwhile, provision has also been made for head porters (Kayayei) who are in the streets. Food and a daily stipend has been allocated by government for them, to cover them during the period.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced a partial lockdown in some parts of the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions as part of efforts to contain and prevent further spread of the Coronavirus pandemic in the country.

The country has so far recorded some 195 cases out of which some 3 have fully recovered, 48 in Mandatory quarantine in Accra have been discharged and are under observation and 5 have died.