Residents of Sheini, a rural community in the Tatale/Sanguli district of the Northern region have been unable to adhere to regular handwashing practice due to lack of handwashing facilities.
According to the assemblyman, Nafule Kwame, the community which is located along the Ghana-Togo border with a population of about 2000, has only two veronica buckets serving them.
This has been a challenge in observing the regular hand washing as one of the protocols in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
“Our major problem is the handwashing materials, we have only two. So it is making it difficult for people to practice proper hygiene. Some of them do not believe the virus exists and we are close to the border so we need more of the handwashing facilities and intensive sensitisation of the people here,” the assemblyman for the area, said.
He made this known in an interview with Citi News after Emmaland Resources Ghana Limited, the mineral rights holder of the Sheini Iron Ore Project in Sheini with support from Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Board donated assorted items worth 30,000 cedis to the Sheini community as part of efforts to help the government in combating the spread of the virus.
The items include 30 pieces of veronica buckets,145 pieces of hand sanitizers, 200 sack of bags of rice, 30 pieces of dustbins among others.
Presenting the items, the Project Development Manager, Osei Owusu Ansah Godbless said the gesture is part of their corporate social responsibility to help vulnerable communities during the era of the pandemic.
“We want to come and meet all the people in the community free and safe from the pandemic. we appeal to you to observe the protocols with these items we are giving you as part of our social responsibility.”
Residents were also sensitized on the precautionary measures. The residents lauded the initiative and assured of their cooperation.
The Emmaland Resources Ghana Limited and Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Board also presented some items to the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya Na Abukari Mahama II.
The overlord expressed his appreciation to the company and assured them of his support.