The Federal Government, in collaboration with the United Nations in Nigeria and funding from the European Union, has taken up the challenge to rouse Nigerians to the all-important need to take precautions against the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. This is even more important now that a new, deadlier stream of the virus is currently on the prowl, killing people within days.
Implemented by the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), with technical support from UNICEF, the campaign tagged Powerful HANDS, is aimed at engendering behaviour change, using an acronym for the key actions expected of the people. HANDS means: “Have your hands washed or sanitized frequently; Always cough or sneeze into your elbow; No going out without a face mask; distance of at least two arm’s length should be maintained; Stay indoors and self-isolate if you feel sick.”
The State Campaign Mobilization Lead for Oyo State, Akerele Akorede, said the sensitization campaigns in Oyo State have focused on Ibadan South West and Ibadan North Local Government Areas. Akerele said the two LGAs have large communities and are where the burden is actually very high, according to data.
On Friday August 13, Akorede led a dozen volunteers and other stakeholders to Dogo in Apata community of Ibadan South West, where they intensified the campaigns. They engaged the traders in Agbekoya Market in Apata and environs one-on-one, sensitizing and also charging them on the need to abide by all the COVID-19 protocols as espoused by HANDS. They even introduced the “power of HANDS” slogan, which became a mantra among the people in the market.
The Babaloja of Apata, Alhaji Rafiu Raji, who doubles as the Babaloja of Ibadan South West received the HANDS team with the Otun Babalaje, Oloye Ismail Oladele, and the PRO of the Agbekoya Market, Apata, Mrs. Folashade Olayiwola.
Speaking through the Otun Babalaje, who is also the Asipa Baale of Apataland and environs, Oloye Oladele, the Babaloja said HANDS team “deserves commendation for the good job of enlightening the populace on the impact of the virus and what we should do to prevent its spread.”
He said while it was gratifying that “we are alive to witness the opportunity of this enlightenment campaign, we must also not be unmindful of the fact that the virus has done a lot of damage and the best way to remain safe is by complying with all we are told at the HANDS campaign.” He recalled that there was lockdown last year, which he said affected their businesses and they were unable to go to their worship places. “During the lockdown, the Local Government gave us only one hand-washing device in this entire community with just six litres of hand sanitisers. It was way too small and was not the best way to encourage compliance with the prescribed COVID-19 protocols,” he lamented. He expressed the desire to see the government do more in terms of public enlightenment and support of the citizenry in the fight against the scourge of COVID-19 like he noted the CCSI was doing.
On what the market is doing since the second wave of the virus emerged along with its variants, the Babaloja said “we have been trying not to waver in our responsibilities and we will continue to enlighten our people on the need to observe the health protocols.” He said at their meetings and sundry gatherings, the leadership of the market and community would highlight the HANDS campaign messages.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) representative at the event, Mr. Adenekan Moshood observed that the campaign at Apata had been “quite impactful as the ones we had at Oja Oba in Ibadan North LGA.” He said “continuity is very essential so that the people will not jettison what they are told.” One of the Volunteers in Ibadan South West LGA, Yemisi Okeola, said “basically, we let them realise the power in their hands by keeping to simple HANDS steps.”
On whether the community members were responding, Adeyefa Kikelomo, a Social Mobilisation Assistant, said the response had been encouraging mostly because the campaign had been brought to them. “When they see us, they bring out their nose masks and hand sanitisers, even their buckets for hand-washing. So we will keep telling them the importance of hygiene to their health and that of the community.”
Akerele Akorede said “the campaign came to be because it was found that a lot of people are aware about COVID-19 and what they are supposed to do but they are not practicing. Practice is very low. This campaign is being implemented in seven states and Oyo is one of the hot spot states in the country right now. In Oyo State, two LGAs, Ibadan South West and North are where the burden is actually very high according to data.
“As we engage on the field, we found that people are actually aware of COVID-19. They know they are supposed to wear their nose masks, wash their hands frequently to prevent the spread, but practice is at its barest minimum. When we traced further as we engaged with them, we found that some of them actually have myths and misconceptions.
“Myths and misconceptions are deeply rooted in the community. Some of the myths are that “COVID-19 does not affect a black man”; “the temperature here is very high, it doesn’t affect us”; some will ask you “have you seen anybody that they said COVID-19has killed in your community?” Some of them will also tell you that “it is a government scam. They raise the awareness that there is COVID-19 so that they can get more funding”. Apart from our core messages, we also have complementary message, that is, we refer people to vaccination centres to take vaccines. We encourage them.”
Some of the misconceptions about vaccine as we engage people in the community is that they say the vaccine is like a metallic implant. They say “when you put spoon or any metal at the spot, it will stick.” They also tell you that the vaccine will shorten your life span to two years. So, these things are deeply rooted and they are some of the hindrances to practicing these preventive behaviours.
“There are some of those that are practicing. They however look very odd in the community. They call them names like “Baba COVID” or “Mama COVID” and things like that. So, some of them are actually becoming weary and feel discouraged from practicing these preventive behaviours. However, as we engage with them in the community, we are actually seeing changes. People now understand, we debunk these myths and misconceptions, and people now understand. Some of them will instantly begin to wear their nose masks and reactivate their hand-washing spots, keep social distance and so on. They are actually complying as we engage with them.
On whether the campaign has achieved the level of success he would want, the Oyo Campaign Consultant said, “They are large communities and we are working with 12 community volunteers in each of the LGAs. These 12 community volunteers are also ambassadors like I am. I still go out voluntarily to sensitize people apart from the activities that we have. So, we hope to do more in these communities. We hope that the funding will continue so that we can continue the sensitization, but the results we are seeing is encouraging, people are trying to comply. That behaviour change that we desire we are actually seeing it and we are having success stories.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents
In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…
Selfies, video calls and Chinese documentaries: The things you’ll meet onboard Lagos-Ibadan train
The Lagos-Ibadan railway was inaugurated recently for a full paid operation by the Nigerian Railway Corporation after about a year of free test-run. Our reporter joined the train to and fro Lagos from Ibadan and tells his experience in this report…
[ICYMI] Lekki Shootings: Why We Lied About Our Presence — General Taiwo
The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing the killings at Lekki Toll Gate, on Saturday resumed viewing of the 24hrs footage of the October 20, 2020 shooting of #EndSARS protesters by personnel of the Nigerian Army…
ICYMI: How We Carried Out The 1993 Nigerian Airways Hijack —Ogunderu
On Monday, October 25, 1993, in the heat of June 12 annulment agitations, four Nigerian youngsters, Richard Ajibola Ogunderu, Kabir Adenuga, Benneth Oluwadaisi and Kenny Razak-Lawal, did the unthinkable! They hijacked an Abuja-bound aircraft, the Nigerian Airways airbus A310, and diverted it to Niger Republic. How did they so it? Excerpts…
Sahabi Danladi Mahuta, a community mobiliser and APC chieftain. Mahuta spoke to select journalists at the sidelines of an Islamic conference in Abuja recently. Excerpts…