The Association of Women in the Media (ASWIM) has presented hand sanitizers to market women at the La Market in Accra .
Aside the presentation, the association led by its president, Mrs. Mavis Kitcher together with its convener, Miss Mary Mensah also educated the women on precautionary measures in order to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Mrs. Kitcher who noticed that the market women were observing social distancing and ensuring the washing of hands commended them for conforming to such protocols.
Although ASWIM had earlier sensitized some market women in Agbogbloshie, she underscored the need to sensitize all market women and also ensure that they all receive hand sanitizers because of the nature of their job.
She also noted the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection supported ASWIM with some sanitizers when the Association called on them, stating therefore that ASWIM will continue to sensitise market women as well as support them with PPE.
“We called on the Gender Ministry to help and they gave us hand sanitizers; we intend to share it so that every market woman will get some,” she said.
She urged the market women to continue adhering to safety measures and ensure that those who come to purchase from them are also in their masks.
“Wearing of masks should be your priority. If someone is coming to buy from you and is not wearing it, tell the person to wear it,” she advised.
Miss Mary Mensah, who doubles as the Public Affairs Officer for the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) called on corporate bodies, individuals to support ASWIM with PPE so that they can also support market women in the fight against COVID-19.
Meanwhile the market women admitted that they were ensuring everyone wears facemasks before selling to them.
It was also observed that a City Guard had been placed at the entrance of the market to ensure that whoever entered the market washed their hands and were in masks before entering.
For those who were not in masks, he ensured they either buy some at the entrance or turn them away if they were not able to buy it.
The Vice President for La Market Association, Charlotte Adjorkor Ala who was alarmed by a decision of the Municipal Assembly to divide the women into shifts to ensure social distancing called on the Assembly to reconsider the decision.
According to her, they were adhering to precautionary measures, especially social distancing and did not need any shifts.
“Because of the COVID-19 people are not buying like before and so the market is not populated. Sometimes we have to take our stuffs home and some also go bad so we do not need to come here in shifts. We are begging the authorities to re-consider their decision,” she cried.
She also called on the Assembly to open the refurbished market so that they can leave the temporal one which has exposed them to thieves.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com | Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
