By Ebi Perekeme
The Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, a frontline Nigeria-based non-governmental organisation, has embarked on a sensitization campaign to support government’s efforts in preventing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in parts of Nigeria. Abuja FCT and Delta State in particular.
The National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Comrade Mulade Sheriff who led the sensitization exercise in Abuja, said the NGO carried out the activities to complement government’s efforts at all levels to educate and enlighten Nigerians on the need for stringent measures to curb the spread of the deadly virus.
This was made known on Wednesday, March 25. He said the Warri office of the CEPEJ visited communities, health centers and market places to educate the people on the importance of personal hygiene, social distancing and proper medical care. He added that people should always examine themselves if they have symptoms such as fever, cough and difficulty in breathing.
The NGO’s medical team advised communities to always obey directives from the government, Ministries of Health and Information, as well as the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), to prevent the spread of the killer virus, through regular washing of hands for at least twenty seconds with soap and running water. He averred that people should cough and sneeze into tissue papers.
They were also advised to always clean and disinfect touched surfaces and used objects, and avoid handshakes, hugging, touching of eyes, nose or mouth for now.
On social distancing and symptoms of sickness, the NGO told the people to avoid crowded places or large gatherings, keep a distance of two meters with anyone sneezing or coughing, limit contact with sick people, stay at home or seek medical assistance when sick, and avoid self medication.
CEPEJ also distributed hand washing buckets, soap, hand sanitizers, disinfectants, hand gloves, nose masks and instruction guides on good hygiene, while sensitizing them on the best practices that would protect them, their families and their communities from contracting and spreading the pandemic in Delta State and across the country.
The places visited by the Warri Office of CEPEJ were Osubi community market and its Health Centre, as well as Ugulo community, all in Okpe LGA of Delta State. The people expressed their gratitude to the NGO for showing concern for the health of the two Okpe communities
While receiving the items, the Patron/Director of Osubi Health Centre, Mrs Ajuzieugo Eseoghene commended CEPEJ for the gesture, and promised to put the items into judicious use. In the same vein, residents of Osubi community applauded CEPEJ for the initiative, while traders at the Osubi market hailed the NGO for the kind gesture.
For his part, a renowned traditional Chief of Okpe Kingdom and a leader in Ugolo community, Chief Sydoff Ememor, stated with joy that the items donated by CEPEJ would go a long way in keeping the people safe from the killer virus. He promised that the items would be strategically placed in the community for maximum benefits to the people, stressing that CEPEJ has demonstrated its genuine interest in the development of the community through its health interventionist programmes.
Other speakers including the Community Youth Leader, Mr ThankGod Adodeh, its Woman Leader, Madam Lady Emene and Leader of Thought, Mr. Kimo Adodeh, all promised to make judicious use of the items to keep the people safe. They also thanked CEPEJ for the philanthropic gesture and pledged to support the NGO’s activities at all times.
Meanwhile, ASP A.A. Azemba who received the same items on behalf of Nigeria Police at Life Camp Division, Abuja, FCT, expressed gratitude to CEPEJ for the gesture and promised that the Police Force would use them for the prevention of COVID-19 in the area.
The CEPEJ team later trained the people on how to make use of the items and effectively wash their hands to prevent them from contracting the virus.
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