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Mirriam Madiye

Features Writer  

People across the world have been urged to continue wearing masks as the Covid -19 pandemic continues to ravage the world.

Speaking at the campaign launch of the Mask week, the Deputy Director of the Africa CDC, Dr Ahmed Ouma Ogwell said people should continue to do what is necessary to keep themselves safe from the Covid -19 pandemic.

“Everyone who has worn a mask in public has helped slow the spread of COVID-19.

“As the pandemic continues to spread and access to vaccines has been slow across much of Africa, we must fight against pandemic fatigue and continue to do what we can to keep everyone safe,” said the Deputy Director.

Speaking at the same occasion, Eloise Todd, Co- Founder of the Pandemic Action Network said masking is very important and people should continue masking up.

“Last year, with the first World Mask Week, we sparked a global movement in 117 countries to wear masks.

“This year, as the pandemic persists in much of the world, we’re coming together around the message that masking still matters and to show gratitude for those who have worn a mask and continue to mask up,” she said

Todd added that for the world to end the Covid -19 pandemic, there is need to use all the tools available to fight the pandemic and that includes mask wearing.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), said 2021 is already a deadlier year in the pandemic than 2020 as some regions are up against the spread of variants and rising case numbers, while others with access to vaccines are lifting masking and other public health restrictions

The World Mask Week has been running between July 12 -18.

It is a global movement to encourage continued public mask wearing in combination with handwashing and physical distancing to reach the end of the Covid pandemic.

World Mask Week provides the opportunity for global unity around a single message: Let’s keep masking — not just for ourselves, but for our families, our communities, those who are most vulnerable, and the world

The mask week was launched by Pandemic Action Network, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the African Union, 3M and over 50 global   regional and local partner organizations.