COVID-19: NGO sensitises physically challenged in rural Sokoto

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Long Term Solution for Destitute Initiative (LOTSDI), has embarked on a sensitisation campaign on COVID-19 disease, targeting the physically challenged and other vulnerable people in the endemic local government areas of Sokoto State.

Addressing the vulnerable groups in Gagi community in Sokoto South Local Government Area on Tuesday, LOTSDI Chief Executive, Dr Sale Ibrahim, underscored the importance of educating vulnerable persons on COVID-19.

Sale said they needed to be adequately sensitised to strictly adhere to COVID-19 protocol and to report cases of violence to the appropriate quarters.

He explained that many women and vulnerable people in the society were ignorant of COVID-19 symptoms and as such would not know whether they had contracted the disease.

According to him, women and vulnerable people are targeted because they are living in the midst of people and also interact with all categories of people in the communities.

“We also educate the participants on issues of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) because we observed that there were many cases of violence against women and children.

“There is need for participants to know channels and ways to report cases,  as well as how to persuade victims and families to open up,” Sale said.

According to him, the exercise is being conducted in collaboration with the UN Population Funds (UNFPA) and targeted rural communities in Sokoto State.

Speaking, District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar-Jabbi, commended LOTSDI and UNFPA for the support toward improving public health, as well as the general wellbeing of the people.

Umar-Jabbi noted that people were being made aware of COVID-19 issues through such exercise and adhering to preventive measures.

He stressed that more efforts were desired on improving maternal health and socio-economic activities toward reducing poverty as an associate menace.

Malam Sambo Gagi, Malami Garba and Mardiyya Sabi’u, who spoke at the event, said that they were better equipped now on the COVID-19 protocol, while commending  the NGO and other organisations for their support towards containing the COVID-19 disease and its spread.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event witnessed question and answer sessions, as well as demonstrations of COVID-19 symptoms, ways to report suspicious cases and treatment locations in the state.