COVID-19 INTERVENTION
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an unprecedented global social and economic disruption resulting in one of the largest global recessions which left governments, business leaders, health and scientific communities with the task of curbing it’s spread and impact.
In line with emerging protocols leading the global efforts to contain the pandemic, African governments, including Nigeria adopted a combination of measures- closing borders, grounding flights, shutting down educational institutions, enforcing physical separation, stay-at-home orders, and closure of non-essential businesses and industries. This in turn disrupted lives and livelihoods most of which are earned on a daily basis in global South countries like Nigeria.
With the alarming increase of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria, came extensions in lockdown durations, which intensified the challenge of feeding, safety and prevention, access to clean water and sanitation.
It also became apparent that there was a need for education on the virus as there was a lot of misinformation in circulation.
In response to these challenges, the O.B. Lulu Briggs Foundation intervened via its COVID-19 Intervention Scheme to help mitigate the challenges experienced by vulnerable families in Rivers, Kogi and Kano States respectively.
Between 13th and 20 April 2020, five thousand (5000) bags of rice and five thousand (5,000) packs of 500ml hand sanitizers were successfully distributed to various communities in Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru, Degema, Obio-Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas in Rivers State. Known scientific facts and information about the virus and protective measures were simultaneously addressed and emphasized to benefiting communities and institutions.
On the 8th of May 2020, two thousand (2, 000) bags of rice were distributed to communities Kano and Kogi states through the collaborative effort of Ahmadu Yakubu Foundation.
Select organizations and groups were also supported, and benefited from the intervention offered by the Foundation. They included the following:
(1) Those on the frontlines of the containment efforts- (Security Agencies – the Army and Police),
(2) The Red Cross, Journalists and public workers who kept public areas clean even during the lockdown, and
(3) Widows, and families of volunteers, and the prison communities.
