A one-day training Programme has been organised for informal waste collectors with the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA) in Accra, as part of efforts to build their capacity on effective waste collection in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic.

The training on Covid-19 and other sanitation related diseases was organised by the ESPA in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, Ghana (UNDP), and the Accra School of Hygiene on September 10, 2020.
It was also aimed at building the capacities of informal members under ESPA on occupational health and safety in the era of COVID-19.

Meeting
A total of 60 members of the informal sector participated in the trainer of trainee meeting which was held in two separate sessions consisting of 30 persons per meeting.
Those trained are expected to impact the knowledge gained to their respective members.
Social distancing protocols including the washing of hands with soap, use of hand sanitisers and the wearing of face mask were observed throughout the meeting period.
Participants
At the meeting were the Executive Secretary of the ESPA, Mrs Ama Gbadago, the Executive Secretary of Pest and Vector Control Association of Ghana (PEVAG), Mr Francis Yeji, a Senior Medical Waste Tutor at Accra School of Hygiene, Mr Micheal Affordofe, a tutor at the Accra School of Hygiene, Madam Doreen Donkor. An official of the Ghana Health Service, Mr Derick Obeng as well as staff of the ESPA participated in the training Programme.
Training topics

The Executive Secretary expressed the urgency for members to adhere to all basic safety protocols taught. She expressed, “this training has become necessary especially in the era of COVID-19, you do not know who has it or not. If you want to live long and healthy you need to take this training very seriously.” Likewise, Miss Matilda Owusu, a research Assistant of ESPA and Mr Afordorpe, a lecturer at Korlebu School of Hygiene entreated participants to take the training seriously. This he noted will “secure their personal safety while guaranteeing the safety of others.”
Participants were taken through effective ways of handwashing, occupational safety tips, precautionary measures against COVID-19, among others. The training adopted an interactive participatory approach with a lot of demonstration exercises. During one of the demonstration exercises on how to effectively wash one's hands, “Some participants shouted “woa failee” [this signifies a missed step by a demonstrating volunteer] as they observe their colleagues take turns to demonstrate their handwashing skills.”
ESPA informal members expressed their appreciation to the Association, UNDP, and all other stakeholders for providing them the opportunity to benefit from the training. Participants pledged to make use of the knowledge acquired in their everyday operation. They also promised to organize similar engagements to impart knowledge acquired to their members in the branches. Some leaders used the opportunity to solicit additional support in terms of PPE’s and frequent training capacity for waste collectors .
The training is timely and expected to go a long way to guarantee the health and safety of ESPA’s informal waste members.