By Emeka Nwokocha
The supportive role of the Civil Society Organisations (CSO) in Delta state in the fight against the spread of Covid-19 was demonstrated on Saturday 16, May 2020, by the Uvwie LGAs Chapter of the Delta State CSO’s Emergency Intervention Group, Delta Central Zone.
The Group embarked on sensitisation campaign on Covid-19 and distribution of face masks and palliatives to residents of Uvwie, Udu and Ughelli north LGAs of the state, to ensure full compliance with the Delta State government’s order that makes wearing of facemasks in public places mandatory, to curtail the spread of Covid-19 in the state.
The distribution of the free facemasks exercise kicked off at the popular Jakpa junction motor park and proceeded to Jakpa road, Ekpan village and Ekpan market, as more than one hundred face masks were distributed to the public.
Pastor Edewor Egedegbe, member of the Group and Executive Director of VREI, said the exercise was successful, adding that it created a forum for the CSO to educate the communities on the deadly and ravaging effect of Covid-19, and the proative measures to curb its spread in the communities.
His words, “the distribution of free facemasks to residents of the communities in Delta State is a practical step taken by the CSO to support the Delta State government in its efforts to curb the spread of the deadly virus in the state. As a responsible entity that places high premium on the health and general well-being of the people, we deem it important to activate our corporate social responsibility to the communities. In addition to the free facemasks we are distributing today, we also enlighten the communities on the danger posed by Covid-19 pandemic; how it is spread, and the preventive measures to keep the virus at bay.”
He continued, “to demonstrate our commitment to promote love and care for the needy in our society, we have also given a token of cash to 5 elderly women (3 at Jakpa community and 2 at Ekpan community) to cushion the hardship caused by Covid-19, and the gesture was warmly appreciated by them and they prayed for us with deep appreciation from their hearts.”
The second phase of the distribution of free facemasks and palliatives commenced in Udu local government area.
At Orhuwhorun community, the Group visited the oldest man and presented palliatives and facemask to him, including women, the elderly and nursing mothers at Orhuwhorun and Jigbale markets. The Group also enlightened them on the importance of wearing face masks regularly, washing of hand under running water, using alcohol based hand sanitizer and observing social distance, to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Ughelli north area also benefited from the kind gesture of the CSO as free face masks and palliatives were given to a crowd of people at the popular Urban Dee Plaza and Ughelli Central Motor Park while 5 nursing mothers, 6 aged people (5 women and 1 man) received cash gifts in addition to the facemasks. The people were also sensitized on the covid-19 pandemic, even as they were taught how to properly use the non-medical nose mask, and the need to adhere strictly to compulsory wearing of facemasks and observing other NCDC guidelines to combat the spread of the virus.
The security operatives also benefitted from gesture, as 3 battalion barracks were visited by the CSO team. Soldiers were sensitized and educated about the Covid-19 pandemic and measures to be taken to curb its spread, even as palliatives and facemask were given to the elderly and nursing mothers.
Other members of the Group, Chief Felicia Adjeke of CYRAWEC, and Mrs..Joy Tobele of IPAS, said the exercise was a practical demonstration of care and due commitment of the CSO to promoting wellbeing of the society, even as they advised beneficiaries of the free facemasks to comply with the directive of the Delta State government on compulsory wearing of facemasks in public places.It was however, recommended that enlightenment on Covid-19 should reach out to more people in other locations across the state.
