Vetsark, one of Nigeria’s leading digital solutions company for agriculture and health systems has donated critical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to residents of Ajegunle Community in Lagos state, as part of its COVID-19 Risk Communication and Prevention Strategy, to help Lagos state combat COVID-19 pandemic.
The items donated included facemasks, hand gloves and soaps. The donation drive which lasted for over 8 weeks targeted mostly underprivileged people such as residents, local market women, security personnel, medical staff, and other essential workers who are the first responders on the frontline, providing care and treatment to people affected by the virus in Ajegunle community.
The CEO of Vetsark, Mr Mene Blessing said: “Our intervention in Ajegunle community is very timely because Ajegunle is considered as the largest slum in Nigeria and one of the largest in Sub Sahara Africa. “Our goal was to increase awareness and prevention of COVID-19 among the over 500,000 residents in the area, and distribute 5,000 critical protective equipment to the most vulnerable people living in Ajegunle, over 8 weeks period.
“We have no doubt that the protective equipment will play an important role in containing the spread of COVID-19 in the community and Lagos state as a whole”. In addition to providing protective equipment, Vetsark also sensitised the people of Ajegunle community on hygiene practices, keeping social distance, handwashing with soap and water as well as precautionary measures to prevent COVID-19.
“We sensitised the people of the community on various hygiene measures to protect them from COVID-19. Before our intervention, many people did not believe the pandemic was real. “Our sensitisation effort led to a change in behaviour and attitude towards COVID-19. This is consistent with our goal of preventing disease outbreaks in communities as well as our mission of transforming agriculture and health in Africa. We believe good public health is central to the prosperity of any people, and as such must be prioritised,” Mene stated.
Vetsark also used the intervention to call on stakeholders and good-hearted Nigerians to join in supporting the efforts of the government towards combating the COVID-9 Pandemic.