A group, South East Corona virus Intervention Network,( SCIN) has commenced massive awareness and advocacy campaign on Covid-19 in the South East.
The group is said to have comprised of two leading Technology and Innovation focused organizations, Nzukolabs and LearnFactory, with support from Ford Foundation.
Speaking at the official launch of the campaign had in Owerri, the Coordinator of the group, Nze Meekam Mgbenwu, said the two technology hubs are collaborating to sensitize rural communities on the steps that will help to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 in the region.
According to him, despite the ravaging impact of the disease, many persons in rural communities across South-Eastern Nigeria still believe that COVID-19 is a sham, stressing that SCIN is committed to ensuring that citizens across the South-East particularly in the rural areas, are adequately equipped with the right information to stay COVID-19 free, healthy and alive.
He said, “It is evident that one of the major challenges inhibiting the fight against the pandemic in South East region and Nigeria is the poor or near absence of awareness and advocacy campaign about the dreaded virus especially in our rural areas”.
The
SCIN boss further revealed that SCIN have designed various tools for
Information dissemination such as jingles in local dialects, Social
Media, and would engage traditional Rulers, community leaders, and
others to achieve good results.
Mgbenwelu
noted that as disruptive as the pandemic has become, there is a huge
potential of vast opportunities that would emerge following the
outbreak.
He lauded the efforts of Nigeria Centre Disease Contol for their guidance with communication protocols and massaging content as well as other relevant agencies for their commitment to combating the scourge of corona virus particularly amongst the rural and urban poor in South East, while soliciting the support from corporate organizations and individuals to ensure the health and safety of the rural folks.