Two non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Ghana Federation for the Urban Poor and People’s Dialogue, are calling for more livelihood assistance initiatives for the urban poor, as part of measures to manage the effects of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The two community livelihood-focused NGOs, with support from donors, have been distributing food items, hand sanitisers and nose masks to the urban poor, including some physically challenged persons in Accra, as part of its efforts to manage the Covid-19 pandemic.
The standard of living of many slum dwellers and the urban-poor has been the worst affected by the pandemic.
And even after the lockdown was lifted months ago, most people are still unable to eat two square meals daily, to the extent that most slum dwellers and the urban-poor continue to find it difficult to afford nose masks and the needed personal protective equipment (PPE), thereby being more vulnerable to the spread of the Covid-19.
Owing to these economic difficulties among the urban poor, the Ghana Federation of the Urban Poor and the People’s Dialogue, with huge support from Oxfam Ghana, continue to reach the needy with such health necessities, including food items.
Over the weekend, the two NGOs continued with their gesture at Chorkor, Agbogbloshie and Madina, where the aged and physically challenged were not left out.
The Operations Director for the Federation for the Urban Poor, Haruna Abu, told the media: “You can’t fight Covid-19 when people are hungry and would want to do everything possible to feed. Already, most slum dwellers and the urban-poor cannot practise social distancing or even afford PPE. How do we say we are managing Covid-19 without supporting these vulnerable ones?
“The Federation for the Urban Poor and the People’s Dialogue, with support from their donor partners like Oxfam, would continue to play their part by assisting the vulnerable in difficult times.”
He called on other NGOs and the government not to relent in their efforts.
The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the NGOs for the assisstance, describing it as timely and hoped others would emulate the example.
Nii Nathan Andrews Tetteh, Stool Father of Agbogbloshie, on behalf of the aged, expressed worry that little was being done in supporting the aged, reminding all that there was blessing in supporting the aged.
“Those of us who are old can only look up to the energetic and the government for assistance, but, sometimes, it’s frustrating if help does not come. The time has come for Ghana to have a concrete policy and programme for the aged,” he bemoaned.
Mary Ashiokor, a physically challenged person, thanked the two NGOs for their gesture, but was quick to note that more support must be given to the physically challenged.
The fight against the Covid-19, according to Haruna Abu, needs concerted efforts and so he said that the poor community-focused NGOs would continue to need more support for the urban poor and slum dwellers.
The post Two community NGOs call for more livelihood support for the poor appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS