A think tank, Savannah Development Policy has expressed worry over what it describes as a total disregard with the use of face masks by people in the five regions of the north.
The Think Tank said many people have adopted a lukewarm attitude towards the wearing of face masks and are indulging in reckless disregard for all the other protocols put in place by the government to contain the spread of COVID 19 pandemic.
A statement signed by the Executive Director of the organization, Abu Kansangbata, at Wa said it is quite worrying that most people in the northern part of the country have not heeded to the call by health authorities to wear face masks.
The statement said using face mask is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to prevent the spread of the disease, yet people are still reluctant to do so.
Mr Kansangbata advocated the use of locally manufactured face masks which he said are more accessible and affordable to the people particularly those in rural areas. The Savannah Development Policy however commended some Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies for putting on hold the weekly markets within their jurisdictions in their bid to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The move, the Think Tank believes is in the right direction and must be strictly enforced.
The statement called for proper financial resourcing of the National Commission for Civic Education, NCCE, as well as MMDAs to carry out public education on the need to wear face masks in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic especially in the five regions of the north.
They are Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Savannah and North East.
This, when done, will yield the needed results of getting many more people to wear the face masks to prevent the spread of the disease.
The Executive Director expressed the readiness of his organisation to partner with MMDAs to carry out public education on the need to adhere strictly to the wearing of face mask and abiding by other preventive protocols.
Story filed by Sualah Abdul-Wahab.