Red Cross in hygiene promotion exercise
Malawi Red Cross Society has engaged markets in Blantyre Rural on hygiene to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Speaking on Tuesday at the launch of the exercise at Khombwe Market in Traditional Authority Chigaru, Red Cross Blantyre Covid-19 Response project manager George Semele said they will distribute buckets and soap to the facilities to enable market users to wash their hands regularly.
He said: “The pandemic has now spread everywhere, including rural areas.
“So, hygiene promotion is important. If people follow preventive measures, they will not contract the virus.”
Semele encouraged the market leadership to establish a small fund for members to contribute money to buy soap to ensure sustainability of the initiative.
On his part, Khombwe Market chairperson Hamilton Salimu said the market had one bucket which could not cater for everyone.
“We will put the materials to their intended purpose,” he said.
Blantyre district health promotion officer Chrissy Banda urged other partners to emulate the Red Cross gesture.
“As a district, we are working with different stakeholders to ensure that we reach all communities with Covid-19 messages,” she said.
The district has registered about 1 400 Covid-19 cases with 36 deaths.
