A Non Governmental Organization, Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID), in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria has embarked on aggressive sensitization campaigns across kogi state to create awareness on the danger of the COVID-19 pandemic currently ravaging parts of Nigeria and the entire world.
Speaking during the sensitization campaign in Osara, Adavi Local government area of the state, the Executive Director of PIBCID, Halima Oyiza Sadiq, said that they are carrying out the campaign to create awareness and to tell the people the seriousness of this global pandemic which has claimed several lives across the globe including Nigeria.
She said they were able to educate the people on personal Hygiene, the need for Social distancing, and other preventive measures needed to curtail the spread of the coronavirus as outlined by relevant agencies.
According to her the people are also told how the coronavirus can be contacted and the steps that can be taken to wade it off, saying that postals have provided which are translated in local dialets for easy understanding by the local communities.
She added that the sensitization programme is being carried out in 13 communities of Adavi and Igalamela Local government Areas of the state.
According to the ED, their choice of the local communities was as a result of the low awareness of this global Pandemic in those areas when compared to what was obtainable in the cities.
“In Lokoja the state capital for instance, people are aware of this deadly virus, COVID-19. But on getting here people do not even know that such disease exist and i was wondering if the people are with us. This is dangerous. So we decided to take the campaign to them so that they would not be taken unaware.
She said, it is worrisome that despite the measures put in place by the federal government, through the NCDC and the various state governments, the virus has continued to spread, saying that this was why it was necessary to embark on aggressive sensitization and campaign to curtail further spread.
The communities visited during the campaign includes, Osisi, Osara, Osaragada, Aku and Atami in Adavi LGA and Ugbedomagu, Apata, Ajodan, Ogboba, Ujagba, Ofuloko, Aya and Okpakpata communities all in Igalamela LGA.
