RAJSHAHI, Aug 27, 2020 (BSS)- All the ongoing COVID-19 responses should be reached to the marginal and hardest hit hand-to-mouth people properly to mitigate their livelihood related hardships, caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Scores of government and non-government entities are providing relief materials to the affected population in addition to health protective gear and equipment to the front-fighters since the pandemic began.
Around 30 journalists of both print and electronic media, development activists and social watchdogs came up with the observations while taking part in an cybernetic press conference today.
On behalf of its ‘COVID-19 Advocacy and Response Programme (CAR-P)’, Light House, an NGO, hosted the press meet styled “COVID-19 Response towards Marginal People at Rajshahi District” in association with Counterpart International with financial support from USAID and UKaid.
The speakers said there is a need for close coordination and supervision of the government and non-government entities so that all the targeted people can derive total benefits of the COVID-19 responses properly for their wellbeing.
USAID Representative Sumona Masud, Deputy Chief of Party of Counterpart International Shahid Hossain and Senior Programme Specialist Syed Sultan Chand addressed the conference as resource persons while Light House Chief Executive Harun-or-Rashid moderated the discussion.
In the keynote presentation, Monawar Hossain, Project Manager of CAR-Program, illustrated the aims and objectives of the project and press conference.
The speakers viewed that the role of mass-media is very important for making all the COVID-19 responses effective and target-oriented as the government under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working relentlessly to reach humanitarian assistance to all the affected people.
Various issues including how to expedite the government stimulus package like cash allowance and safety net program and inclusion of all excluded groups in the program were discussed elaborately in the meeting.