MTN Uganda, Red Cross Rally Market Leaders on Being alert amid COVID-19 pandemic

*A Red Cross worker checks a market shopper’s temperature at the entrance*

Kampala – MTN Uganda and Red Cross have advised market leaders to remain vigilant as the country further negotiates through the Coronavirus pandemic.

With most markets having stayed operational during the lock-down, Red Cross marked them high risk areas – a reason they requested funds from MTN Uganda to support the busiest markets with risk communication and Covid19 screening services.

MTN Uganda committed UGX297.33M to Uganda Red Cross Society to support disease prevention and control in high-risk communities.

With the lock-down now eased to a certain extent, MTN Uganda’s Regional Commercial Lead, Patrick Tumusime is glad risk communication and screening were introduced.

“I am very pleased to note that since these risk communication and screening activities were introduced, the communities have adapted to them and have been adhering to them as recommended.

“We, therefore, feel confident to hand over the systems to the local authorities to carry on with the good work that Red Cross has been doing as a way of preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus.”

The 16 beneficiary high traffic markets were selected by URCS in co-ordination with MoH (Ministry of Health) and KCCA (Kampala Capital City Authority).

These included; St Balikuddembe market (Owino), Nakasero, Nateete, Busega, Ntinda New Market, Nansana daily market and Kyaliwajjala market among others.

A total of 13 priority markets in Kampala and 3 in Wakiso were selected based on their capacity in terms of the number of people they host on a daily basis.

According to the Red Cross Covid19 response report, Josephine Okwera, the URCS director for health and social services revealed that “more health teams” have been trained to work through this pandemic.

MTN’s Patrick thanked URCS for the tremendous work of sensitizing, screening and promoting hygiene in the markets.

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He urged the authorities that are taking over the risk communication, screening and hygiene promotion activities to carry on the good work started by URCS and to strongly keep enforcing the standard operation procedures in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

He also encouraged both the sellers and buyers of food to remain vigilant by observing the ministry of health guidelines of social distancing, face mask-wearing, hand washing and sanitizing in order to prevent the deadly virus.