COVID-19: Lagos Begins Community Sensitization To Halt Spread

Lagos State Government has announced its decision to begin an extensive Public Enlightenment campaign on the coronavirus pandemic, which will go across all the 20 local governments and 37 LCDAs.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, speaking on the commencement of the campaign, said the exercise was initiated after the discovery that members of the public did not comply with the directives issued by Governor Babatunde 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.”

The information commissioner further stressed on the #maskup Lagos campaign which, according to him, will be taken across the entire state.

While urging Lagosians to take responsibility in the fight against COVID-19, he solicited public support in ensuring that the campaign is taken to every household and expressed optimism that the fight against the pandemic will be won if residents adhere strictly to the directives issued by the Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).