By Nyima Sillah
Facemask one of the precautionary measures introduced to help protect people from spreading and contacting the coronavirus pandemic is totally abandoning by many people not just only within Banjul or Greater Banjul Areas alone but across the country.
At least hundred people are reported to have died of the virus which has infected more than three thousand others since it emerged in the country last March.
Malamin Seghore said he is tired of wearing the World Health Organization’s recommended facemask saying people have been wearing it for months in the country and nothing has changed.
“We have seen it in the news and programs whenever there is an event some of them don’t wear facemasks so how do they expect citizens to wear face masks they should do what they preach so that citizens can follow their footsteps,” he alleged.
But according to Awa Barry, she is not wearing facemask because she is an asthmatic patient. “We all know how asthma patients suffer without proper inhaling of oxygen so I cannot protect myself and risk it at the same time. I think people should exercise more of social distancing and the use of sanitizer especially in the market than 24hrs use of mask in such tight place,” she said.
Abucarr Njie, a student said he only wear facemask in school. He said “sometimes when I wear it after school my friends will tell me that remove this thing on your face covid-19 no longer exists in the country.”
Reacting to the public reaction, Health Director, Modou Njai said: “My Ministry is still working hard to advocate for the use of facemasks and other key preventive measures because we don’t want the country to go through a second lockdown like other countries around the world.”