‘Community Enlightenment, Key To Containing Transmission Of COVID-19’

By Solomon Odeniyi

The Executive Secretary of the State of Osun
​Primary Health Board, Oluwole Fabiyi has
​called on government and individuals to step up the campaign against the spread of Coronavirus by engaging in aggressive community enlightenment as integral part of their efforts.

Fabiyi stated this during A-Day Training for Social Mobilization Committee on case definition of COVID-19 Signs and Symptoms and Preventive Measures held at the state secretariat of the board.

He said the pandemic, which has reached the third stage of community transmission, needed an aggressive sensitisation of people in various communities to contain the spread of the virus, even as governments are ramping up tests across the states of the federation.

Fabiyi noted that it was saddening that some communities still believe that Coronavirus pandemic is a hoax; in spite of the fatalities recorded, adding that with community enlightenment, people in those communities could change their erroneous beliefs.

“The need for community enlightenment should not be pushed to the burner in the fight to defeat the Coronaviruspandemic. We are in the third phase of the virus, which is community spread. We need to engage in aggressive community enlightenment to help change people’s attitude in a bid to curtail the spread”, he said.

The Executive Secretary added: “It is unfortunate and sad that some communities are still living in the denial of the virus which community enlightenment can help change their perceptions. This will also help complement the effort of the state and federal governments who have been doing their best to curtail the spread of the virus.

“I believe if we embark on the enlightenment using leaders, and opinion moulders, health promotion officers in various communities and there may be end in sight.”

The Director, Medical Service and Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Dr. Mrs Titi Anifowose said one major problem the state was facing in the fight against the deadly virus is the porousity of the state’s borders with other states.

According to Anifowose, 26 of the 36 cases recorded in the state were imported, calling on the government to ensure more attention was given to the state’s borders.

She warned residents of the state from receiving visitors from high-risk states such as Lagos, Kano, Abuja among others; in order to help the state flatten the curve.

Anifowose said any heroic act aimed at containing the spread of the virus like that of the Ekiti father in the video which went viral would not go unrewarded by the state government, enjoining residents to emulate such.

She added that the state government has concluded plans to set up centres in five major towns in the state where residents with symptoms can go for tests.

In her remarks, the State Health Education Officer, MrsTaiwo Adeniji urged members of the Social Mobilization Committee to sensitise and mobilise residents of their various communities to ensure the spread of the virus is contained in the state.

She added that members of their communities should be made to understand the need to stay safe at this period, saying that one of the ways that this could be achieved is by seeing everyone as positive while seeing themselves as the only one free from the virus.

She said this would enable them to adhere to the precautionary measures as stipulated by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the state ministry of health.

Adeniji warned against the stigmatisation of those who tested positive for the virus, noting that stigmatisationkills faster than the virus itself.