…Determined To Halt Community Spread
The Lagos State government, in its efforts to reinforce the measures put in place to contain the community spread of COVID-19, has begun an extensive public enlightenment campaign, which will reach every nook and cranny of all the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas, LCDAs.
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, while speaking on the commencement of the campaign, said that the exercise was initiated after the state government discoveted that members of the public failed to comply with the directives issued by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the lockdown was eased in Lagos.
Omotoso said, “It was disappointing that residents threw caution to the winds immediately Mr. Governor announced the partial lifting of the lockdown imposed by the Federal Government. People stormed banks without exercising caution, despite the ravaging effects of the pandemic. The enhanced public enlightenment campaign, which will involve LED and mobile billboards, is expected to strengthen the advocacy on physical distancing and other preventive measures.
“Information about the symptoms, prevention and sample collection centres for individuals who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 will dominate the campaign. It has become imperative to penetrate communities with details that will attract the attention of residents to engender compliance with health experts’ directives on COVID-19.
“The campaign is to further increase awareness on symptoms, prevention and sample collection centres so that Lagosians are further equipped to combat the virus, especially at this critical stage of community transmission.”
Reiterating Governor Saneo-Olu’s call that every Lagosian must #take responsibility in the fight against COVID-19, the commissioner emphasised that the #maskup Lagos campaign will be taken across the entire state.
While soliciting public support in ensuring that the campaign is taken to every household, Omotoso expressed optimism that the fight against COVID-19 will be won, if residents adhere strictly to the directives issued by the Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.
Recall that Lagos had its index COVID-19 case on February 27, 2020, and presently has 1,480 patients on admission; while 528 have been treated and discharged and unfortunately recorded 33 fatalities.
