Chairman of the FCT expert committee on COVID-19, Dr. Aliyu Modibo, has said that the Federal Capital Territory would deepen efforts towards preventive measures that would save the common man from the pandemic, Nature News gathered.
The chairman made this known in his opening remark at a 5-day workshop on “Building Community Resilience against COVID-19″ in Karshi, Abuja.
The event was organised by Universal Disaster Recovery Foundation (U-DIREF), a non-governmental organisation.
Modibo, who was represented by Prof. Nasidi Abdulsalam, a member of U-DIREF board, said that government would collaborate with like-minded NGOs to improve preventive measures through proper sensitisation on basic facts about COVID-19 and its prevention.
He urged the trainers to build the skills of the participants in the practice of preventive measures and to discuss myths and misconceptions about the disease.
“Teach participants the strategies for reducing the risk of transmission of COVID during the conduct of their work and those of other stakeholders in the COVID-19 response,” he said.
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Dr Iwot Ndaeyo, Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Board, in a remark, said that COVID-19 had redefined the whole world’s social life and every facet of human existence. Ndaeyo, who said that the disease does not discriminate, added that it had infected people of all social classes, races and countries all over the world. According to him, COVID-19 can be transmitted in all places, including areas with hot weather.
“Regardless of climate, adopt protective measures. The best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is by frequently cleaning your hands. By doing this, you eliminate viruses and other germs that may be on your hands and avoid infection that could occur by touching your eyes, mouth and nose,” he said.
Mr Daniel Gambo, U-DIREF chief executive officer, said the sensitisation workshop fell within U-DIREF’s sensitisation strategy and mandate of promoting public health. Gambo further said that the project was also a response to COVID–19 pandemic. “Our mission is to assist Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Health, in the measures to control and contain the disease.
“This sensitisation is targeting traditional, religious and opinion leaders of a rural pastoral and agrarian community where communication signals are unavailable to intercept accredited jingles on COVID–19. These are people who will now carry the message to their different domains,” he said.
A participant, Rev. Danjuma Ashayi, described the workshop as an eye opener towards more facts about the COVID-19.
“Anyone, rich or poor, Muslim, Christian or traditionalist, old or young, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, all tribes, can be infected,” he pointed out.
An Islamic religious leader, Mallam Mohammed Rabo, a participant, lauded the organisers for choosing Karshi as pilot community in FCT to benefit from the workshop. According to him, one of the outcomes of the workshop is that one needs to protect himself or herself no matter one’s status.