BY FELIX UKA ABAKALIKI
National Orientation Agency, NOA in collaboration with UNICEF has commenced sensitisation about the dreaded Coronavirus. also known as COVID-19 in communities in Ebonyi state.
The sensitisation team led by Dr. Emmanuel Abah has visited ten communities including
Ameka, Amuzu, Ezzama, Echara,
Umunwagu Idembia, Nsukkara and Amaezekwe all in Ezza South Local government area.
At each of the communities the team addressed them, even in their local language.
Dr. Abah explained to them that there is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“The best way to prevent COVID-19 is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
The virus is spread mainly from person-to-person.
Between people who are in close contact.
Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person
coughs, sneezes or talks.
These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are
nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs”. he said.
The NOA boss said that droplets can last for about 12 hours on every surfaces it landed,
“Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by
people who are not showing any symptoms.
Prevention Tips
Follow the guidelines by the government and health officials as follows;
Wash your hands frequently and carefully with soap and running
water. Rub for hands for at least 20 seconds
Use alcohol based hand sanitizer”
Dr. Abah informed the stakeholders that people were asked to stay
wherever they are to avoid the spread of the virus from place to
place.
He eulogized UNICEF for the collaboration and the Ebonyi State governornment’s closing the bothers
with other states around us but lamented that not minding people still
sneak into the state through illegal means stalling the efforts of the
government to prevent the virus from coming into Ebonyi State.
He urged the community stakeholders to report whoever that came into
their community from outside the state to Ebonyi State COVID-19 task
force for necessary action.
Dr. Abah and his team also spoke to the community stakeholders on the
need to end Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), they informed the
stakeholders on the need to take practical measures to end rape of
women, girls and small children which are on the increase in Ezza
South LGA.
They regretted that other forms of VAWG which are also rampant in Ezza South LGA are: Child labour, Child marriage, Domestic violence, Wife battering, Use of young girls as house help, etc.
A pathetic story of how a young girl from Ezza South LGA was taken
from home and send to Onitsha, Anambra state as house help where she
was maltreated, battered, given facial injury to the extent that her
face has been disfigured.
Others that spoke include, Barr (Mrs.) Ijeoma Aja-Nwachukwu of Ministry of Justice, Ebonyi State and Chief Igwe Godwin, HOD: Child,
Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ebonyi State.
In their separate remarks, the traditional rulers of Ameka Community,
HRH, Eze Martin Nwali Oyibe, Echara Community, HRH Eze Martin Nweke
lamented that even the educated people are spreading rumour in the
villages that COVID-19 is not real rather what some highly places
persons in government are using to syphon fund. He promised that they
will continue to educate their people on the need to stay safe and report anybody who came back from outside the state to Ebonyi State COVID-19 task force for necessary action.
On the issue of VAWG, the traditional ruler lamented that it is a big
problem in their area. He frowned at a situation where some men see their wife as a property they must deal and used anyhow they like without recourse to their fundamental human rights.
