By Joe Akwarandu, Umuahia
The Geocet Planet Foundation has taken the coronavirus safety protocols sensitisation campaign to rural communities in the southeast in a bid to assist in breaking the chain of transmission at the community level.
Recall that the foundation has recently carried out a sensitiation outreach to Umuigu-Oboro community in Ikwuano LGA of Abia state, where they sensitise them on the dangers of excessive alcoholic intake with the belief that it prevents COVID-19.
Speaking at the community hall of Umueze Alaoma, Achara Umuaka community in Njaba LGA of Imo state, the executive director of the foundation, Uju Nwaka advised the people to adhere to instructions on social/physical distancing, wearing of facemask, regular washing of hands and the use of hand sanitisers, as that will help keep COVID-19 away.Nwaka, who went down memory lane on how the pandemic started late last year, how the COVID-19 pandemic was ravaging the entire world and steps to take to avoid contracting the virus, warned that chronic ingestion of alcoholic beverages does not kill the virus.
She stressed more on the myth being spread at the community level that alcohol intake helps to boost immunity against the virus and advised that the consumption of alcoholic drinks will only endanger their health and expose them to COVID-19 and other health challenges, and should be avoided or reduced.
In a remark, the program manager of the foundation, Patrick Esomuzor, who informed the villagers that COVID-19 is real and not a mirage, as being speculated, said Geocet Planet Foundation is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to restoring hopes to the vulnerable and less privileged people in the rural communities.
In appreciation, the community’s spokesperson, Sir Goddy Asodike, lauded the efforts of the foundation and assured that the message of COVID-19 precautionary directives will reach all the household and doorsteps of the community.He further appealed to the visiting team to help look into other areas that will help bring the needed development to the community.
Facemasks and COVID-19 information tracts were distributed to all in attendance while hand sanitisers and plastic buckets were given out to be positioned at strategic places in the community to encourage regular hand washing.