Home News N Cape mayor hands out sanitiser in informal settlement

N Cape mayor hands out sanitiser in informal settlement

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The mayor went from house to house and also gave the residents a short informative talk on the importance of staying home and sanitising.

FIVE hundred bottles of hand sanitiser and information pamphlets about Covid-19 were distributed by the mayor of Dawid Kruiper Municipality, Michael Segede, and the Department of Water and Sanitation to community members of the informal settlement in Paballelo, Upington.

Segede went from house to house and also gave the residents a short informative talk on the importance of staying home and sanitising.

He pointed out that people in the informal settlement made use of communal taps so the hand sanitiser would come in handy.

“We are preaching the importance of hand washing and practising good hygiene as well as social distancing. We have to consider the plight of people in the informal settlements, who do not have access to running water inside their homes. The sanitiser will ease the burden of the shortage of water,” said Segede.

He said the door-to-door visits made it easier to spread the message about the coronavirus.

“It is very important to get the message across to the people of the informal settlement in a language they understand. One also gets feedback from residents on their understanding of this virus, as well as the social challenges they face,” said Segede.

He added that they would be rolling out the programme to other areas.

“We are doing this programme in partnership with the Department of Water and Sanitation, who will decide which area we will visit next. We have many small communities around Upington that we also need to educate.”

A resident in the area spoke for many when he said that he was very happy with the donation.

“I have to walk to the tap to collect water and my children usually play inside the yard. I have to constantly remind them to wash their hands, but if there is no water then it becomes impossible. This sanitiser will help me keep their hands germ free,” he said.  

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