Jide King, a West Africa Operations Health and Safety Manager with British American Tobacco Nigeria Ltd; has stated that one of the main causes of the increase in COVID-19 infections in Nigeria is due to the fact that local communities have not been properly addressed.
He opined that as the number of cases increases in Nigeria, local communities have been left out by the mainstream media in the sensitization of community members in reducing the number of infected people.
Speaking to HSENations; Mr. King said “It is very sad to know that as at today Nigeria has recorded high case of Covid-19 despite the effort so far. This is heartbreaking news for me, and very disappointing. Very disappointing because the result is completely at variance with the efforts and investment put into fighting the disease so far. This is simply because the graph has continued to go North”.
Mr. King noted that as safety practitioners; they have seen a lot of focus on awareness and provision within their own sphere of influence, and the increased activities of the mainstream media like television, newspapers, etc, which effort must be appreciated.
“As you know we dwell more within the corporate environment where there are structured ways of doing things.”
“On the part of the government, we have seen a lot of commitment and investment in isolation centers and testing, movement restrictions and lockdown, and so on. But in terms of awareness, mainstream media has not really impacted the local communities. It is apparent that there have been serious knowledge gaps within the communities.”
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“As I drive around occasionally in Ibadan, I shiver because the society is carrying on as if Covid-19 is not real. I grow goose pimples passing through a local market because all the recommended protocols were completely neglected. Many times I see Okada carrying three passengers on their bikes and all sorts of unacceptable behavior.”
He further emphasized that “all the efforts from our own sphere of influence could easily be frustrated by the lackadaisical attitude of the communities in which our people live, this is because – precautionary measures taken at work can be frustrated by their exposure at home. Therefore, awareness and education remain the key because of the nature of the scourge we are dealing with.
Mr. Jide King concluded that “in education and awareness; community and religious leaders need to be engaged because by my personal assessment the mainstream media is not sufficient.
Overall, to stem the tide of Covid-19, education, and awareness should be accelerated and far-reaching. We must now teach people how to be self-centered; Yes, Self Centered means I play my part, you play your part and so eventually each person plays his or her own part.
