Location: Nigeria (Gwagwala/FCT Abuja)

Nigeria was plunged into a state of confusion, panic and anxiety on 27th February, 2020 when the index case of Corona virus-2019 (COVID-19) was reported in Lagos, South-West Nigeria. These reactions exhibited by the citizens were justifiable in view of the trail of the disease as experience in other countries.

The FCT Abuja and Lagos were the epicenter of the spread of COVID 19 in Nigeria with both states accounting for 70% of the confirm cases in the country. And Gwagwalada is the community were the isolation center for FCT Abuja is located with designation of the teaching hospital as the isolation center. All community members deserted the hospital and only seek medical helps from primary healthcare and with lack of WASH facilities at this primary health care centers there is higher possibility of the virus being spread, considering the cleaners and other health workers from the isolation centers purchase items/ goods from the same market. Also worth to mention is misinformation and misconceptions been spread about COVID-19 especially in rural and slum communities in Gwagwalada considering most of the vulnerable groups have no funds to purchase face masks. In view of the above gccyf provided face masks, hygiene promotional materials and community led hygiene promotion activities, appropriate information delivered through appropriate and the most reliable channels as a major intervention and preventive measure against the spread of Coronavirus.

Golden change concerned youth forum owns a skill acquisition centre were young people come to acquire skills for free. We saw that a lot of young people in our community wanted to learn one skill or the other but couldn’t afford to pay for the training hence one of the reasons for the establishment of the skill centre. So far the skill centre has graduated over 200 young persons on various skills.

During the lockdown the GGCYF and the girl trainees at the skill centre came up with an initiative to sew and distribute face mask across FCT, as cases of covid-19 were on the increase and lots of people in our community can’t afford or have access to face mask, hence the reason for the initiative.

9500 face masks were sewn and distributed across health centre’s and hard to reach communities to pregnant women, young persons and people living with disabilities. During the distribution there was enlightenment on the do’s and don’ts of face masks, hygiene promotion (the proper way to wash hands) etc. 9500 persons were reached with hygiene promotion activities, materials and information.
The only challenge faced was that the face masks weren’t enough for the population, but there was nothing we could do, as there is no funding from any donor but just an initiative by the trainees and the organization.The people involved in the project are the trainees at the skill centre and the staff of golden change concerned youth forum.

Support

For this initiative we budgeted $7600 but were able to raise $4150, we are short of $ 3450. We are planning fundraising through any related call for proposals.

Other support: Access to information

See more:

www.gccyf.org

https://twitter.com/gccyfnigeria?lang=en

For more information, contact covid19@unmgcy.org