Anti-covid-19 rules not followed in some area of Kigali
Thursday April 02 2020
Washing hands with soap is one of the simplest and most effective ways of killing off any infection and viruses. PHOTO | FILE
Some citizens are taking chances with their lives as it emerged that not all are adhering to basic hygine measures that the government announced. It was understood, for instance, that not all people who visit public places wash their hands or sanitise their hands with water and senitisers provided to stop spread of coronavirus.
In addition, food shops are open with washing stations at the doors but in most cases they are not used and even some are empty or don't have soaps. Customers shopping for foods enter shops normally, they don’t wash their hands or use sanitisers as it has been recommended by Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation to prevent from covid-19. “It is difficult to tell our customers to wash their hands.
After all most of them refuse to do it or they say it is a form of arrogance. Our lives lie in God’s hands,” said a shop owner in Rebero cell, Gikondo Sector in Kicukiro District.
No protective gear
He doesn’t have any gloves or masks, while he was receiving money from clients shopping for foods and commodities. Aside, a small market of vegetables and fruits with an empty wash station. It is installed at the entry but anyone among sellers or clients approach it.
“It is there like a symbol so that we don’t get punished but truly very few people remember to wash their hands or to tell clients to do it,” confessed one of the vegetable sellers.
The situation is the same in many residential suburbs in Kigali, Rwanda Today observed. Some people are even gathered on the streets, saying they are tired to stay at home, despite the new measures announced by the Prime Minister, ordering people to stay at home.
Julien Mahoro Niyingabira, officer in charge of communication at RBC told Rwanda Today that the Ministry of Health works together with local leaders from village level to help Rwandans implement these hygiene measures.
However, it is still hard as mindset around hand washing is still low and a lot of effort and sensitisation need to be done especially to help the country fight against Covid-19.