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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Salon operators in Kampala are not adhering to the standard operating procedures-SOPs aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19.
When saloons and other businesses were reopened last year, they were directed to adhere to the Ministry of Health guidelines which include wearing face masks or face shields for staff and clients, observing social distancing, washing hands with soap, checking the temperature of clients and turning off air conditioning.
However, salons around Kampala especially those located in congested areas like Mulago, Kamwokya and even Wandegeya market do not adhere to the set SOPs.
A visit to eight salons located in these areas revealed that none of the salons adheres to SOPs. Most salons do not enforce hand washing or even disinfecting surfaces. The mandatory spacing between customers is non-existent. In Wandegeya market, neither the customers nor operators insist on the use of masks. Customers that wear masks look out of place.
Flavia Mirembe, a salon operator in Wandegeya says that there is a need for sensitization by the government on how the community should boost their immunity against Covid-19 other than preventive measures which cannot be perfectly applicable to salons.
She notes that it is impossible to trim a client’s beard when they have put on a mask.
Another salon operator, Rachael Nandasse says banning transport has affected her clients therefore there is no need to observe SOPs in the absence of clients.
Another operator only identified as Chris from Chris beauty salon attests to the same claiming that while his salon is ready to observe SOPS, clients are nowhere to be seen and therefore sensitization for observation of SOPS in salons is irrelevant.
However, Exotic salon, a high-end salon in Kamwokya adheres to some of the SOPs like wearing masks and washing their hands at the entrance. The surface and salon chairs are also sanitized.
Timothy Tumwesigye, a salon operator says that to avoid congestion at the salon, they only attend to customers who are on schedule.
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