The Nigerian Red Cross Society volunteers across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT are ever ready to serve in this trying time of COVID-19. Knowing fully that the country is housing more than 190 million people as indicated in the 1996 census still counting. About 80% of the population are leaving in the rural communities and the suburb locations with the status of being the poorest poor. Nigeria is face with a less number of imported and local transmission of COVID-19, 5 death is recorded with more than 230 cases confirmed.
The volunteers are busy sensitizing the public on the myth of COVI-19 as perceived that ‘only infect the wealthy, high placed, government personnel and people that have travelled to other nationalities face with the pandemic’. As part of the NRCS exercise sensitize the public to ensure improvement of personal and environmental hygiene, social distance, no handshakes, observe isolation if faced with symptoms and prompt reporting of suspected cases for proper testing and quarantining through contact tracing.
At the Branches and HQ levels we carryout PSS and mental health support to our volunteers as part of the caregivers support. We were involved with the registration of beneficiaries found in the poorest communities as a result of the lock-down. So far we are standby monitoring the situation and working closely with government through National Disease Control Department (NCDC), National Emergency management Agency (NEMA), Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (MHADMSD), security operatives and other stakeholders as a member of the presidential task force of COVI-19.
Our volunteers remain committed to serving humanity at this traying time of COVID-19 as they are also encouraged to take the online courses to enable handful information sharing ahead of the pandemic.