By Beauty John, LAFIA
ActionAid Nigeria has commenced public awareness campaigns and door-to-door sensitization on COVID-19 pandemic at the grassroots in some rural communities in Nasarawa state.
The Programme and Consortium Coordinator, Mr Anicetus Atakpu, speaking on Saturday. explained that misinformation and lack of preparedness by communities have made it very essential for NGOs and INGOs to step in to complement governments efforts.
Prompt News gathered that the door-to-door sensitization and response efforts are focused on six local government areas in Nasarawa state namely; Obi, Lafia, Nasarawa-Eggon, Akwanga, Toto and Nasarawa.
Mr Atakpu said that “Considering the foregoing, we are piloting door-to-door awareness campaigns by engaging community facilitators and established Community Action and Response Team Members in all our project communities in a bid to reach out to all individuals living in these communities”.
The production and sponsorship of jingles in predominant languages in the state in partnership with the media had since commenced to aide the widespread of the sensitization.
He explained that “the programme is aimed at ensuring proper sensitization and information to prevent and combat the deadly Coronavirus among rural dwellers, particularly, the beneficiaries of the awareness campaign”.
Mr Atakpu expressed his joy over the fact that no case of COVID-19 has been reported in Nasarawa state. However, he could not hide his disappointment seeing that hoodlums have highjacked the pandemic to perpetuate violence in communities across the country.
“Coronavirus is real and all hands must be on deck to combat it and restore normalcy in the country”. He said.
The coordinator called on all residents of Nasarawa state to support governments efforts by taking time to understand the symptoms and preventive measures, reporting identified cases, practicing social distancing/ self-isolation, and desist from spreading myths and wrong information about the dreaded virus.
