A woman community leader in Anambra, Mrs Ngozi Mbachi, on Tuesday urged members of the public not to stigmatise persons suffering from Coronavirus sickness.
She made the appeal in Enugwu-Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area, Anambra, during the distribution of palliatives to the women of Aboatulu kindred in the community.
According to Mbachi, COVID -19 is not a death sentence and stigmatisation will make sufferers not to disclose their condition thus placing other community members at risk.
Mbachi said that no fewer than 50 Women from Enugwu-Ukwu in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra benefited from the Aboatulu Women union palliative programme.
“All we need to do at the moment is to observe all the precautionary measures given by WHO and medical experts. Stigmatisation will make the people to hide relatives with symptoms.
“Nobody would like to live with stigmatisation, the fear of being ill-treated will make people to hide information,” she said.
Mbachi said that the people at the rural areas were already aware of the dangers linked to the coronavirus, but sound enlightenment was required to drum the safety measures into their ears.
She urged the beneficiaries of the COVID-19 palliatives to be prudent in management of the resources available to them so as not to run out of food stock while the pandemic lasted.
Mbachi also appealed to Anambra state government to tighten security at borders in order to forestall influx of people as well as prevent spread of coronavirus pandemic in the state.
She said that the union had empowered 10 women after skills training with fund to engage in small businesses such as making “Zobo” drink, puff puff, chi-chim.
“No woman should fold her hands now, but should try out their hands in lots of small business ventures and farming to make ends meet,” she said.
Mrs Nwabugwu Okafor, a centenarian, who benefited from the palliative said it would cushion the effects of coronavirus pandemic being experienced in the community and expressed joy over the gesture.
Okafor commended the union’s executives for their service to humanity and urged them not to relent in being a good guide to the women of the kindred.
Mrs Elizabeth Okafor, 93, grand matron of the Aboatulu women union, urged the women to use the palliative wisely and ensure that they educated their children on the need to observe COVID-19 precautionary measures.
Okafor said that since there was no known cure for the virus, they should follow all directives given to them so as to stay alive and appealed to government to ensure that security operatives carried out their duties.
Mrs Grace Anagor, Vice President of the union, said that the executives sourced over N500,000 from their husbands to achieve the vision to cushion effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their members.
She advised the women to carry the news to all their families and ensure they followed all directives to ensure their safety.
Mrs Patty Anagor, a member of the union, commended the executives for the training and empowerment given to the women to sustain their families and assured that they would spread the message to others.
Mrs Uju Ekwoanya, the Secretary of the union and resource person who trained the women on soap making, bleach, zobo drink, buns and other snacks, urged them to ensure that the palliative was used for the purpose it was given.
News Agency of Nigeria, reports that the beneficiaries included women entrepreneurs, the indigent and the aged, who received cash gifts and bags of rice besides skills training.
The women were equally educated on COVID– 19 protocols including hand washing, social distancing and use of face masks.
(NAN)
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