Beakanyang ED Raises Concern on Impact Of Public Health Emergency On Poor People

By Landing Colley

Executive Director of Beakanyang has expressed concern over the living conditions of poor people as government’s public health emergency takes effect. He also urged the government to help and provide food for the people to avoid starvation.

Nfamara Jawneh in an interview with The Voice on Tuesday said in the next three months if the government did not provide food stuff to the vulnerable people there is possibility that most people will get starves.

“Government has now put restrictions on some areas which is good, but my concern now is how people will feed their family after knowing that majority of the people living in this country live from hand to mouth,” he asked.

He therefore appealed to the Gambian government “to consider providing support to the vulnerable population in this country.”

He noted that “The government and private individual has provided hand sanitizers, and some other items but I want the government to go further to provide food supply for the poor and needy people out of the D500, 000,000 approved for the fight of the coronavirus pandemic.”

He made this called in line with what other countries are doing to help their people in this difficult time.

Mr Jawneh added that the only missing things in government declaration is how the government plan to take care of people who are helpless  citing that food is among the fundamental human right.

On the issue of coronavirus, the government should extend their support the civil society as they work with the people on daily bases.

He therefore urged everyone to continue observing the WHO guidelines and as well other health officials’ advice which include regular hand washing under running water, maintain social distancing and hand shake among others.