AS part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s intensified efforts to fight against Covid-19, Council Speaker, Buyelwa Mafaya, recently led a public health programme focusing on disadvantaged farm areas in the metro.
Mafaya visited informal settlements in the Greenbushes and Rocklands areas to educate residents about the virus and donate personal protective equipment (PPE) to help the disadvantaged residents of the metro continue the fight against Covid-19.
The Speaker was accompanied by MMC for Safety and Security in the metro, Queenie Pink.
Addressing residents at St Albans Location, Mafaya said she wants them to stay at home safe and only go out when there is a need to do so.
“You must not feel like you are not cared for. We miss you and we love you, but right now is not the right time for us to meet in large groups.”
Mafaya explained that the municipality decided to zoom in on informal settlements specifically because there were corners within the metro that had not previously received PPE donations.
“They have not received soaps, sanitisers and masks to protect themselves from Covid-19. We always encourage residents to wash their hands, wear masks, stay at home and keep practising social distancing, but today we are here because some of them cannot afford to buy the protective equipment.
“Hence, the municipality decided to donate this equipment.
“Residents really welcomed our efforts and appreciated that we were thinking of them during this time,” Mafaya added.
Excited resident, Nandipha Sifunda, said that the donations of hand sanitisers, masks and soap would go a long way, as many residents of St Albans Location were unemployed and could not afford to buy the equipment themselves.
“This donation came at the right time because the little equipment we bought for ourselves is now running out, as we use sanitisers regularly,” she said.
“It’s compulsory for everyone to wash their hands, so you can’t refuse to assist those that need it, because their safety is also your safety. That is why we share. We are very grateful to the municipality,” she added.
Another resident, Lungisile Mpambani, said that he was happy to see government officials teaching residents how to avoid being infected with Covid-19. “Some people might still think that this virus is a joke. These visits are essential. We are happy, because the municipality didn’t just give us theory, but also tools to protect ourselves against this deadly virus.”
