As part of its contribution to the reduction in the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, ActionAid Nigeria in collaboration with CITAD donated protection materials to Communities around FCT to assist them inculcate the practice of good hygiene among dwellers.

The distributed items include Public Address System, 16 banners and posters, hand sanitisers, hand gloves and face masks in large quantities.

Country Director of ActionAid, Nigeria, Ene Obi, said the orgainisation is already working with CITAD and other Community facilitators in four Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory that include; Abuja Municipal, Kuje, Bwari and Kwali on the need for personal hygiene.

Obi explained that the essence of the sensitisation exercise is to sensitise FCT communities on COVID 19 as well as to educate communities facilitators across FCT of the importance of personal hygiene and the dangers of the pandemic and the need to take communal and individual precautionary measures to stay safe.

She further said; “Our focus of intervention is on prevention and control of the spread of covid-19 in communities and to help them stay home and stay safe.”

“The protection materials and other items donated can be used to prevent infection and stop spread of the COVID-19.

“For easy understanding, AAN and CITAD have also developed messages on how to stay safe from the Corona virus.

“The Messages were produced in English and translated into various local languages (Hausa and Gbagyi) for easy comprehension for the communities in FCT.”

The Local Rights Programme Advisor for Actionaid Nigeria, Hajara Adamu-Opaluwa, said the megaphones/public address systems and few demonstrations on the use of sanitisers, Behavioral Change and Communication materials with messages on COVID-19 were distributed to communities to help curb the spread of the virus

She said that for effectiveness, a WhatsApp group has been created to help community facilitators share update on the situation of Coronavirus in their respective communities.

Adamu-Opaluwa further said that discussion is ongoing with other 11 LRP partners across 11 states and other AAN projects in the country to adopt and replicate thie approach in their respective communities where AAN is implementing the LRP intervention.

According to her; “AAN has also set up a 9-member Committee on COVID-19 drawing up a strategy on sourcing for funds and seeking innovative ways of working in the environment.

“AAN will fashion a way to work with other target groups especially (the poor and the most vulnerable – women, children, young people and people with disability.”

Also speaking, the Programme Officer of CITAD, Salmat Abdulwaheed, said that it is very important to sensitise local communities about the new COVID-19, saying that many of the people out there are not aware of the existence of the dangerous virus.

Abdulwaheed said while some are aware of the disease, they do not believe the extent of the threat and danger it portend to their existence and the necessary precautions or measures to prevent the infection and spread.

Communities benefitting from this intervention programme include; Dakwa, Tungar Ashere, Tungar Nasara, Gwalada, Gofidna and Jiwa Tsoho in AMAC, Pasepa and Kuchi Buiyi in Bwari, Gaube, Kayace and Tukpeki in Kuje as well as Leleyi Bassa, Kilankwa and Leleyi Gwari in Kwali Area council.