Disaster agency wants collective combat against coronavirus

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By SULAYMAN WAAN

Sanna Dahaba, executive director for National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has called all Gambians to unanimously combat the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

Mr Dahaba made these remarks during his nationwide tour to assess the level of preparedness and respond to the world’s deadly pandemic.

He added that working holistically would help the country to rigorously defeat the disease.

“The fight against COVID-19 needs collective work,” he said.

The NDMA is national agency responsible for the coordination and management of all disaster and disaster related issues working under the office of the Vice President.

Dahaba said this deadly disease is everyone’s concern because all are vulnerable to it either directly and indirectly.

He alluded that there is need for all and sundry to work closely in order to prevent the spread of the disease across the country like what happens in other countries.

Executive Director Dahaba said all state actors are relevant in the fight against this invisible human enemy, calling groups like civil society organizations, state institution, traditional leaders, and traditional communicators among others to work with government so as to flush the virus out of the country.

Dahaba urged all COVID-19 regional taskforces to file the challenges affecting their effective and efficient fight against the deadly disease to the agency’s office immediately to ensure that government address those needs with urgency.

He said the pandemic caused series of challenges in the country such as socio-economic impact on marketing, issue of social safety, suspension of certain private and public income generating activities and major income generation activities for area councils and among others.

He assured that government will respond to the needs of the COVID-19 regional taskforces as well as the general public as soon as possible.

In conclusion, Dahaba noted that the disbursement of D500, 000,000 is clear manifestation of government’s political will to combat the pandemic.