COVID-19 – Labour Civil Society, Embarks on campaign against ‘Community Transmission in Enugu state’
Maurice Okafor
As part of efforts to curtail increasing cases of corona virus spread in Enugu state,a combined team from the organised labour and civil society groups in Enugu state has embarked on sensitization of the of all residents of the state,most especially the rural populace on the essence to maintain safety measures as being advocated by the state government and the Nigeria Center for Disease Control.
The combined team which operates under the aegis of ‘Labour Civil society Situation Room,COVID-19 Enugu state’ and led by the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC,),,Enugu state chapter, Comrade Viginus Nwobodo, said the reason of their sensitization visit to various stakeholders in respective local government areas in the state,is based on their findings that COVID-19 spread in Enugu state has climaxed to the stage of community transmission.
He lamented the state government did all it’ s possible best within the period of the lock-down to control the spread with directives tat all borders must be closed down,and advocates on the importance of keeping to safety rules of constant band washing, social distancing,compulsory use of face masks,but lots of people are still in doubt of the existence of the disease,while many others still allege that the various enlightenment strategies being put on ground are a scam.
He stressed that the above wrong opinion[that COVID -19 is a scam] mostly speculated in the rural communities is why the state government inaugurated their team on July 9, The Labour/Civil society COVID -19 monitoring unit,Enugu state selected from all the trade unions in the state including health workers to meet with various stakeholders across the 17 council areas in the state on the importance of driving the message that COVID-19 is a reality.
Speaking at Enugu East local government area headquarters during a meeting with the stakeholders Comrade Viginus Nwobodo stated,
“We cann9t be pretending that majority of our people still hold the view that COVID-19 is a scam. Our people in the villages attend burial ceremonies where they mix up randomly,without observing social distancing or wearing their face mask”
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‘Many also still stick to the tradition of sharing and drinking their local palm wine with one cup. Thereafter, the spread continue with alleged claim of mysterious deaths. Whereas,many of such deaths were as a result of contact with corona virus disease carriers, some of whom are not experiencing developed symptoms instantly because of their high immunity level”.
He explained to the stakeholders comprising of traditional rulers,market leaders,Town union presidents National union of road transport workers,(NURTW),tricycle operators,leaders of various religious groups,Christian Association of Nigeria,(CAN),the Moslem community and other trade unions in Enugu East council areas to tale the exercise as a very serious matter,so as to save souls by containing the rate of community transmission.
The host,Enugu East Council Chairman, Hon Alex Ugwu commended the team for their visit and assured that his council will continue to do the needful in containing COVID-19 spread in the area.
His words,”We have been doing the needful. I believe what you are expecting us to do is to put in more efforts. I am assuring you that the council will continue to march words with action”.
It could be recalled that the administration of Hon Alex Ugwu in Enugu East local government area of Enugu East was among the first council areas in Enugu state that shared food items as palliatives and distributed face masks freely to all wards in the local government area, trade unions,,religious bodies, among others.
