SOMALIA: MOBILE MONEY USAGE REDUCES SPREAD OF COVID-19

[Deeq A.]

Mogadishu (PP) — The less physical money in circulation in Somalia proves a blessing in disguise. Cash changing hands turned out to be a transmission source of Covid-19 in many countries.

In London the daughter of a taxi driver, who died of complications from Covid-19, said her father “contracted the illness as a result of handling cash from customers”. China had to withdraw a lot of cash from usage to contain spread of Covid-19.

Many Somalis are wondering how they would cope with the voluntary lockdown had the ubiquitous mobile money services not been available in the Horn of Africa country. People would be using cash and unwittingly increase the rate of infections in a country with inadequate health services.

“Mobile money services play a significant role in containing the spread of Covid-19 because a fewer  people will handle cash” says Faisal Jama, the owner of a convenience store in Bosaso. “Still people must apply preventive measures such as social distancing, washing hands with soap for 30 seconds, and self-isolation in case one has cold and symptoms of Covid-19” Jama added.

The Federal Government of Somalia has a plan to print Somali Shillings. The global health emergency could put the plan to print Somali Shillings on hold.

© Puntland Post, 2020 

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