GAWF Contributes To The Fight Against Covid-19 In The Rural Communities

For a year that promised to be better than previous years, 2020 is turning to be a year built on false hopes, beliefs and promises. In a twinkle of an eye the country and even the world at large is running at a loss due to the invasion of the coronavirus (Covid-19). Not only has the virus killed so many people, it has also led to a compulsory lockdown of countries in order to suppress its spread; Nigeria being one of the affected countries.

While the virus doesn’t respect anyone irrespective of age, race or colour, the WHO and the NCDC have released several audio and video messages in order to teach people how to maintain social distancing and how to keep themselves safe in a situation where social distancing is unavoidable.

While these messages have proved to curb the spread, it’s no doubt that people in rural areas with little or no access to modern media and direct sources of information stand the risk of being exposed to the virus.

To fix the gap, Global Afrique Welfare Foundation; a foundation sworn to provide relief to the underprivileged members of the society, reached out to rural areas to sensitize members on COVID-19, its risk factors and preventive measures.

Amongst others, the foundation laid emphasis on social distancing, frequent washing of hands, frequent use of hand sanitizers and use of face masks. The representatives also encouraged members to cough into their elbows rather than their hands.

Following the words of Abhijit Naskar, ‘The world is going through a period of crisis, but whether we look at it as a crisis or as an opportunity to reshape our thinking depends on us. So use this period as a lesson on how to live life with a concern for all of humankind,’ we have decided to contribute to the survival and sustenance of people who know less and have less all through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the spread of the virus in Nigeria, the foundation has been able to reach out to over 150 households in 12 different communities. Some of the communities include; Bada, Abelu, Agara, Apa-Ola, Kawu e.t.c. At the end of the outreach, the foundation shared relief materials like liquid soaps, Dettol solid soaps and hand sanitizers.

Global Afrique Welfare Foundation believes that everyone should be involved in the fight against the deadly virus and to this end; the foundation has begun to work on reaching out to every rural community in Kwara State. The foundation aims to reach out to 60 rural communities during the pandemic.

In subsequent outreaches, the foundation aims to provide edibles for people finding it difficult to feed their families during this hard time.

Alhaji Mahmud Abdul Akeem, the chairman of the foundation said and quoted as ‘Neighbourhoods are wailing in fear and desperation. If now we don’t lend a hand, what’s the point of us!’