CSOs ENCOURAGE COVID-19 SURVIVORS TO SHUN STIGMATIZATION

CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS (CSOs) ENCOURAGE COVID-19 SURVIVORS TO SHUN STIGMATIZATION

IDISD participated in an advocacy meeting set up by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Kwara state with CSOs on increased risk communication and community engagement on COVID-19 pandemic in the state on the 21^st of July, 2020.

At the end of the meeting, CSO issued a communiqué as quoted below.

                                    

COMMUNIQUE OF THE ADVOCACY MEETING WITH NOA KWARA /CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATION [CSO] ON INCREASED RISK COMMUNICATION ON COVID-19 PANDEMIC

DATE: 21^st July, 2020.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Kwara State Directorate in partnership with coalition of CSO’s in Kwara State deliberated on increased effort on risk communication on COVID-19 pandemic for community participation and State Government intervention/ implementation through the Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19.

Members of the group appreciated the effort of the Kwara State Government following its pro-activeness in setting up facilities at the various isolation centres and the palliative measures towards cushioning the economic effect of the lockdown. 

 

Thereafter, members of the CSO’s coalitions in Kwara State resolved as follows:

A.     The Group desires that Kwara State Government should be innovative about their approach and strategies in dealing with COVID-19 beyond the directional focus of Federal Government/ NCDC and equally urged citizens to take personal responsibility in the fight against COVID-19.

 

B.     Survivors of COVID-19 virus are encouraged to come out and share testimonies on social media with Nigerians on the existence of the virus and consequently demystify stigmatization.

 

C.     Establishment of enforcement committee in markets, motor parks, religious centres as measures to flatten the curve of COVID-19 transmission.

 

 

D.    Federal / State Government should be genuine in its fight against COVID-19 in line with the NCDC protocols to discourage the activities witnessed on social media where some government officials and individuals hold events and ceremonies in disregard to the NCDC guidelines for social gatherings.

 

E.     Federal / State Government should localize campaign with community and religious leaders as an enforcement strategy to dissuade community members from bridging the COVID-19protocolsmost especially with the relaxation of lockdown for economic reasons.

 

 

F.      Federal / State Government should energize NOA for robust community sensitization in curbing community transmission at the grassroots level.

 

G.    finally, given the rise in the community spread of corona virus cases with mild or no symptoms, State government are encouraged to open up more testing centres to curb the spread of the virus especially amongst those with underlying conditions and the elderly.

                                             

 

BY Hanafi Olanrewaju Rabiu