COVIDPositiveStories – Tomisin Adefare

Tomisin Adefare is an Agricultural Extension Officer by training, Sheis the Founder/CEO of Topak Agro Hub. This is her #COVIDPositiveStory.

According to the World Health Organization guidelines to address COVID-19, there is a need for immediate health response to suppress the transmission of the virus, to end the pandemic, and to tackle many social and economic dimensions of the crisis. In a developing country like Nigeria where the number of infected cases is gradually increasing and if proper precautionary measures are not taken, the virus can spread rapidly among the people.

As part of my social responsibility and that of my organization -Topak Agro Hub, an Agricultural Development Organization with part of its organizational mandate to Improve Rural Health and Sanitation, we decided to carry out a market sensitization outreach in collaboration with other Non-Governmental Organizations such as Strategy and Innovation for Development Initiative, Health Volunteers Naija Initiative, QM Farms Ltd and Naija Agro Forum. The sensitization was carried out in order to complement the Oyo state government effort in preventing the spread of the virus among the people.

The sensitization was done on preventive measures of COVID-19. The market was chosen for the sensitization because that is where the bulk of the food people in the society eat comes from. In a situation someone from the market contracts the disease, it will spread rapidly among the people due to how close their stores are to each other and this would affect the food supply of the state, which could, directly and indirectly, lead to hunger, malnutrition, and starvation to death. This was also done because the majority of the market users do not have access to internet services to get updated information about the pandemic.

A total of 300 market men and women were sensitized on the precautionary measures with a practical demonstration of proper handwashing techniques. Protective materials such as hand gloves, nose masks, hand sanitizers were distributed among the market users and tap buckets, handwash, sanitizers were donated to the markets. A banner containing the preventive measures of COVID-19 in their local language and with hotlines to call in case of emergency was hung at a central location where all market users and passersby can see always.

I have gotten to understand that the level of ignorance about correct information on COVID-19 is very high. As at the time the sensitization was carried out, it was discovered that the majority of the market users didn’t believe COVID 19 exist and they believed it can only affect the rich people. We made them understand that the virus is not a respecter of any person as it affects children, the elderly, the rich, and the poor.

We discovered that majority have heard about COVID 19 from friends before but still aren’t taking it seriously. After the sensitization, the market men and women understood how to wash hands properly, the importance of social distancing as before we left, they began practising it. I believe sensitization is never enough or too much, as they keep hearing the importance and purpose, they will begin to stick to it and act properly.

My advice for youths is to take action to keep their communities safe, this is by encouraging people to take precautions, including washing hands regularly, keeping a social distance from others, and staying home when sick.

Also, as NGOs and the Private Organizations are doing their best in creating awareness and sensitizing people on the need to take preventive measures, the Government shouldn’t relent, there is a need for more awareness to people, especially those living in the rural areas.