Shenseea Cuts Dub For COVID-19 Public Health Campaign
With Jamaica recording a whopping 328 COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, Dancehall artist Shenseea has partnered with the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) to fight the spread of the virus.
The popular hit-maker on Saturday (February 6) dropped a dubplate to her Trending Gyal single, encouraging Jamaicans to wear masks while dissuading them against reckless behaviour after receiving a negative COVID-19 test result, stressing that individuals were still at risk despite test results.
“Everyone fi wear a mask mek the numbers drop, I don’t want COVID lay you down flat; nose and mouth you fi cover up dat oh-oh-oh-oh,” sings Shenseea who makes it clear in the intro that the message is a collaboration between herself and the MOHW.
“Sanitize or get hospitalize, fight di virus and fight fi your life; nuh boda talk bout yuh no response,” adds the artist in the second verse.
“We need to see more artistes using their influence to get the message across to the people,” said one of many social media users who encouraged the Health Ministry to get more artists to do similar songs.
However, some users criticized the Ministry’s first choice for the campaign, as Shenseea has been performing at venues in the United States including a Miami concert in November, which was slammed by local health officials as a ‘super-spreader’ event.
“She contradict herself in this PSA when she perform overseas at super spreader events. The ministry should’ve done some research before they get an artiste for these PSA’s,” said one person on Instagram.
“Shenseea is NOT the one to tell us to take Covid precautions. I’ve seen her IG stories,” tweeted another.
One fan said, “I love Shenseea but how she making tune about keeping the numbers down but doing shows in Florida”.
Shenseea’s latest dub comes as Health Minister Christopher Tufton announced during a sitting of the house of representatives on Tuesday, that the ministry would be stepping up its health promotion efforts, in an attempt to get public buy-in for the COVID-19 vaccine.
“We will also intensify our health promotions and communications machinery. Beginning with a townhall meeting on Thursday (February 4) to further foster trust of the vaccine, dispel myths and misinformation, provide facts and factual information about vaccination. And hopefully through this process gain public input in the vaccination strategies to be deployed,” said Tufton while speaking in the house.
“We are confident that we will get an allocation soon, the other issue of course is to overcome the barriers or resistance because of stigma, because of myths, because of lack of understanding or an appreciation for the process. And we understand that we have a role to inform the public and to provide endorsements and support,” added Tufton.