COVID-19: RCCE Distributes Soaps, Face Shields

The Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Pillar has distributed packets of liquid soaps and face shields to the executives of  major markets in the State to encourage regular hand washing practise and good respiratory protocols following the reopening of  markets amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
The markets include Mile 1, Mile 3, Creek Road And New Layout Markets.
Making the presentation shortly after a sensitisation meeting with the executives in Port-Harcourt, RCCE Technical Lead, who is also the Acting General Manager of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Mr Napoleon Adah, urged them to complement government’s efforts to eradicate the pandemic.
The meeting, Adah said, is to sensitise them on the need to adhere to all the COVID-19 safety guidelines in their respective markets to keep the place safe for  business activities.
While applauding the Executives for measures so far put in place in their markets, Adah enjoined them to sustain the tempo in order to avoid the risk of being closed down or prosecuted for non-compliance.
He charged them not torelent in the fight against the pandemic, adding that they should “step-up your game by keeping your market environment clean at all times, beyond your weekly sanitation days to prevent the virus from gaining access into your market”.
The RUWASSA boss disclosed of further plans to support hand washing and sanitation facilities such as toilets in markets and public places across the State in the next couple of weeks by the Federal Government through its Ministry of Water Resources, which, he said, will work with the State Government to achieve it.
In his goodwill message, the Coordinator, RCCE, Mr Mordecai Olowole, said for the traders to allow the markets to remain opened, they should provide hand washing facilities at the entry and exit points of each market, and ensure that everyone entering the market wears face mask.
“You’re also expected to make arrangements for constant running water and liquid soaps, as well as hand sanitisers in situations where water is not available”, he said.
Olowole further encouraged the market executives to put in place taskforce that will ensure full compliance to the COVID-19 protocols, and advised them to engage other traders, through continued sensitisation, to prevent community transmission of the virus in the area.
He suggested that each market could come up with customised face shields bearing the names of their markets.
Responding, the Chairman, Mile 3 Market, Mr Nnekam Vincent, thanked UNICEF and the State Government for their kind gesture and assured to make judicious use of the items.