COVID 19: Trotro, other public transport safety


The coronavirus outbreak continues to impact us all in our various places. New cases are reported daily in different countries around the world. Previously, all suspected cases reported in West Africa were negative; however, the tables seem to have turned.

The disease’s spread has been rapid, and institutions have the responsibility of providing education and creating awareness about it. To this end, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and other trade unions need to organise engagements for public transport sector operators and all stakeholders as to what the outbreak means for us all.
In order to best serve the transport sector’s needs, we must have strict measures to serve as guidelines for public transport operators in the country. Safety is a top priority for all users of public transport. Transport systems are essential for living and daily mobility routines. As moving around our communities is vital, it is very important to take safety precautions.
It is crucial to acknowledge that preparedness toward an epidemic is not a stand-alone project, but should be integrated into existing crisis management structures and procedures in order to be effective.
It is essential to involve transport business units directly in this planning, as they know best which are the critical supplies, personnel and functions. It is also advisable to involve trade unions in the planning and de­cision-making process at this very early stage; their true involvement can help to achieve understanding and support for less popular measures within our transport systems.
This epidemic has come as a clarion call for innovation even within the transport sector. A digital platform on which passengers can pay fares when commuting from one town to another ought to be implemented. Execution of such will help reduce currency exchange in transactions.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the new coronavirus is a respira­tory virus that spreads primarily through contact with an infected person through respiratory droplets generat­ed by coughing or sneezing, which can be inhaled or con­taminate hands and surfaces. It is still unknown how long the virus can survive on surfaces, but preliminary information suggests that it may last a few hours or more.
Personal protection measures must be applied across all public transport networks regardless of risk level. We must increase personal protection and hygiene measures to reassure both operators and pas­sengers, even if the risk level is considered very low here in Ghana.
Perhaps some measures such as ensuring/improving ventilation, adjusting seating arrangements to ensure better spacing, reminding passengers to ensure personal hygiene, and limiting the instances of standing up to speak in buses – as seen with medicine-sellers and preachers– must be considered as a matter of urgency (preaching on public transport is already illegal for some very salient reasons, but is practiced with impunity).
It is important to follow the information given by the WHO, and stay in close contact with national health organisations and authorities in the country for guidelines.
Public transport is the backbone of local and national economies, and an essential service that must be maintained.

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