National Youth Authority launches COVID-19 Youth Campaign

As part of efforts to raise awareness about novel coronavirus, the National Youth Authority (NYA) has launched a national youth campaign to champion that move.

According to the Authority, this is as a result of the “increasing threat posed by COVID-19 to humanity and the need to scale up public awareness and education”.

A statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Sylvester Tetteh said “the COVID-19 Youth Campaign seeks to create awareness on the pandemic and educate the youth on the various precautionary measures needed to combat the virus. Consequently, the National Youth Authority in collaboration with some youth-based organisations and influential young leaders are organising this campaign against COVID-19.”

“In adherence to the directives from the President of the Republic of Ghana, H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, specifically on social distancing and staying at home, NYA will restrict the campaign to electronic means, thus social media, traditional media and text messages. Short and informative videos and messages will be created and broadcasted on the various social media platforms, radio and television stations,” the statement added.

The Youth Authority will also donate items to the Ghana Health Service and other health institutions.

Government increases public sensitization

The government, on its part, has also strengthened its measures put in place to educate and protect the general public from an increase in the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama had stated that the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have established committees to see to it that their constituents are educated on the virus.

“MMDAs should force bye-laws on food safety, environmental sanitation, hygiene and also on entertainment and other outdoor activities. They are to ensure the availability of handwashing facilities and running water and sanitizers at vantage points in the markets and all other public places.”

“The MMDAs have established the public health emergency committees and they have set public sensitization teams under the overall guidance of public health emergency committees. They have undertaken stakeholder engagements and have commenced the public sensitization on preventive measures and good hygiene practices to curtail community spread of the COVID-19,” she indicated.