COVID-19: Our response in Nigeria
The challenges in Nigeria
Health experts have warned that Nigeria’s unprepared and underfunded healthcare system would quickly become overwhelmed in a major coronavirus outbreak. There are 0.5 hospital beds per 1,000 people and currently only five labs in the entire 195 million-strong country are able to test cases of COVID-19.
There are also huge challenges around access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities. Currently, 116 million people, or 7/10, don’t have a decent toilet, while 55 million people, or 1/3, don’t have clean water.
Marginal/unstable household livelihoods make it difficult for people to stay away from work.
High population density and reliance on shared public transport (e.g. shared taxi, bus etc.) increases risk of transmission.
The most recent data for Nigeria shows an adult literacy rate of 69% (78% for men and 60% for women) - that’s more than 22 million people. Meaning that a high number of people will not be able to access government-approved information on coronavirus and preventing its spread.
Above: “Pop-up” hand washing promotion in Nigeria
What United Purpose is doing...
We have worked with Nigerian artist and musician, Sunny Neji, to create a catchy song that will help spread important hygiene messages to rural communities via radio. Watch it here —>
Our work so far include’s:
2,232,868 people reached with handwashing and soap promotion interventions with City wide sensitisations in two metropolis, small town and population centers through mobile awareness, house to house sensitisation in rural communities.
125,604 households have been reached with handwashing and soap promotion interventions from 10 Local government areas (Benue and Cross River State) .
500 healthcare facilities have been reached with emergency handwashing facilities.
70,000 Posters with messages on COVID-19 have been printed and distributed in Benue and Cross River States.
A 13-episode weekly interactive radio programme with the Environmental Health Officers in Calabar called Sanitation and Hygiene Watch, is being broadcasted in English and so far has reached an estimated 4 million people.