An initiative to raise awareness about the novel virus, COVID-19 championed by some youths of the Ngaoundere diocese during this summer vacation has been launched in Ngaoundere, Adamawa region.
The launch of the initiative dubbed “Holidays without Covid-19” on Monday August 17, 2020, was chaired by the Bishop of the diocese, His Lordship Emmanuel Abbo at the St Eugene of Mazenod College.
While commissioning the young representatives, Bishop Emmanuel Abbo said:
“we are sending you into the field to convey the message of life to the population.” He told them adding that;
“we have always invited people to adopt charitable behaviours while respecting barrier measures.”
This initiative which is programmed to last for 33 days will see the youth ambassadors roam public services, markets, homes, meeting places, and many others to educate the population on barrier measures against the raging pandemic.
As part of its contribution in the fight against the Coronavirus, the Ngaoundere diocese had selected and trained 42 young people under Codas-Caritas, the secular arm of the Catholic Church responsible for social and charitable activities.
According to the Coordinator of Codas-Caritas, Sister Thérèse Emile Zobo, it took them three days to train the young emissaries before their deployment on the field.
“Today, they are well equipped to carry out this awareness campaign. It will be carried out across the city of Ngaoundere,” she told local reporters.
The initiative, News Upfront learned, is one among secveral measures put in place by the diocese in the COVID-19 fight since the outbreak of the pandemic last March.
In one of the recent traditional daily press briefing on the pandemic, the Minister of Public Health, Dr Manaouda Malachie, called of religious authorities to actively participate in the national fight against the persisting pandemic.
The call has been favourably received by both the Christian and Muslim leaders.
In several sermons in churches or at the different mosques, special emphasise are being laid on various preventive measures against the dangerous virus, COVID-19.
