Johannesburg: Communities, individuals and business can play a significant role to slow the spread of Covid-19. The key, says Mozambik Restaurant Group chief executive Manny Nichas, lies in preparedness, communication and knowledge along with decisive action on the part of business to ensure a sense of normality during instances of life-unusual. To this end the Group is rolling out a preventative plan across its stores and partnering with other brands to inform, support and engage with communities.
“Slowing infection rates takes substantial community effort,” says Nichas, who adds that there is a lot that citizens and business can do to support national efforts in minimizing and or containing infection. “At Mozambik we are rolling out hand sanitizers for customers, available on the table, in restrooms and scattered throughout stores along with the availability of latex gloves and disinfectant wipes. This initiative is coupled with a stepped-up hygiene regime along with an intense staff training and awareness programmes rollout.”
In addition to its internal measures, Mozambik has partnered with domestic airline Mango and Mix 93.8FM to engage a qualified nurse with more than 2 decades experience in measures and hygiene protocol to develop communication and internal training materials. “This material will be updated in tandem with recommendations and developments as flagged by authorities,” says Nichas, “the material will be available online and at no cost to any other company or community who wishes to make use of it. It requires community effort and individual responsibility to slow the spread of Covid-19.”
“Broadly speaking, if you feel ill, stay at home. If you have been in contact with someone feeling ill, do the same,” says Nichas. “That is where it should begin. Also, when travelling or going out for dinner, ensure you take easy preventative steps. Wash your hands, sanitize and do not touch your face without doing the same and make use of facilities that have implemented preventative measures.”
“Beyond our internal preventative information and training programmes, Mango has always been committed to ensuring the comfort of all our Guests,” says the airline’s head of commercial Noelan Rungasamy. “We will be leveraging our extensive owned-media channels to engage, support and inform South Africans in order to ensure that South Africans are empowered with the facts and take preventative measures.”
Rungasamy echoes the Mozambik offer to all business and communities that materials developed are free to use by anyone and will be updated as information from authorities become available
“Media plays a pivotal role in communicating information,” adds Nichas, “and while reports of infection rates and public figure walkabouts do make for headline news, more importantly publics need to be informed of what we can do to slow the spread of the virus and manage the threat on a community-led basis. This, without becoming hermits and adapting to a period of life-unusual.” He notes that the partnership with Mix 93.8FM will go a long way in fulfilling a key role in the information value chain.
Communities and business wishing to participate in the initiative or wish to make use of materials produced may contact manny@mozambik.co.za
8 Steps you can take to slow the spread of the Covid-19 (corona) virus.
Johannesburg: Mozambik Restaurants in partnership with other brands, embarked on an informational campaign to supplement efforts in slowing the spread of the virus. A qualified nurse with more than two decades experience in the medical field, Sister Desiree Werner, has been engaged to oversee and assist in the development of communication materials as the challenge unfolds.
“There are 8 basic steps anyone can take to contribute toward efforts in slowing the spread of Covid-19,” says Werner. The emphasis is on community preparedness.
- Have a plan. Meet with household members, family and friends and discuss a plan of action should anyone become infected or feel ill. Many neighbourhoods have Facebook or WhatsApp groups, join it, create a discussion and ensure a free flow of information. Also plan on how to deal with infection as a community.
- Identify care facilities in your area, including medical and mental health facilities and ensure that everyone in your community is aware of the same.
- Identify companies that have taken measures to ensure the slowing of infections in your area where a supply of meals, groceries and other supplies are available.
- If you must travel, ensure that you make use of services with stepped-up hygiene measures.
- Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water after touching another person, surface or object. Alternatively sanitize your hands. Do not touch your face prior to doing this at all.
- If you feel ill, self-isolate and stay at home while seeking medical advice. Ensure that you are entirely open and honest with the medical practitioner prior to your consultation to ensure adequate preparation.
- Sneeze or cough into a tissue or face-mask, and immediately dispose of soiled materials in a safe manner. Wash your hands or sanitize immediately.
- Stock up on soap and sanitizer for your household and neighbourhood.
Informational material by Sr. Werner will be available on all Mozambik Restaurant and other media outlets.
Companies and communities wishing to make use of the material may do so by either downloading it from the various platforms or requesting it from Mozambik chief executive Manny Nichas at manny@mozambik.co.za
Photo caption:
It’s About Community Action: So, says Mozambik Restaurants CEO Manny Nichas and Sister Desiree Werner as the group prepares to roll out additional preventative measures to slow the possible progress of the Covid-19 virus this week. The dining brand is introducing additional preventative hygiene regimes across its stores while producing several training programmes and informational material for employees and the public as part of a greater initiative to mobilise communities in South Africa. “When the going gets tough, South Africans get going,” says Nichas. Mozambik is making all awareness material available to any individual or business at no cost.
