Kigali: Members of Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Community Policing (RYVCP) in City Kigali have reignited the awareness campaign against the spread of Coronavirus.
It’s a volunteerism spirit that the youth group across the country is actively engaged in to enhance the government efforts to educate and influence positive behaviours in order to fight and prevent the spread of the pandemic.
The awareness campaign on the virus was conducted in different places in Nyarugenge District, especially in bus terminals, bus stops and business centres like markets and trading centres.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marie-Gorette Umutesi, the Police spokesperson for Central region said that generally people are obeying directives and regulations put in place to fight against the spread of Coronavirus but they are some individuals who breach them, either knowingly or unknowingly.
“There are some people who do not obey especially social distance and the curfew. The youth volunteers are working with the Police to educate people in different places so that they understand well and respect all directives,” CIP Umutesi said.
She added: “The youth volunteers are using public sound systems to send the message to public places on respecting the one meter interval between people in markets, bus stops, sanitizing or washing their hands and to wear face-masks. They are educating and encouraging them to use cashless payment to prevent the spread or catching coronavirus through currencies.”
Nailla Uwamahoro, the youth coordinator in Nyarugenge District, said that they deliver the message in public places to reach many people who reside in City of Kigali.
“The Police have been delivering these messages but our role is to add our voice and to further reach many people in our communities and public areas. We believe it will have fruitful results.
It is not in Nyarugenge District only; it is a countrywide exercise to positively change people’s actions in this period. For instance, people who are in bus terminals or stations heading to other parts of Kigali, they will hear and share the message,” Uwamahoro said.
She added: “The aim is to end the pandemic in our country through minimizing its spread. If people receive the messages we are delivering and obey the set directives we will overcome Coronavirus.”
Last week, the same campaign took place in Nyabihu and Burera districts. The youth group, which started in 2013, currently has over 300, 000 members across the country. (Fin)