The Lagos State Government has begun an extensive public enlightenment campaign, so as to contain community spread of COVID-19.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, said in a statement on Thursday that the campaign would go across the 20 Local Governments Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state.
Omotoso said the exercise was initiated after the discovery that members of the public did not comply with the directives issued by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the lockdown was eased in the state.
”It is disappointing that residents threw caution to the winds immediately the governor announced the partial lifting of the lockdown imposed by the Federal Government.
‘People stormed banks without exercising caution despite the ravaging effects of the pandemic.
‘The enhanced public enlightenment campaign, which will involve LED and mobile billboards, is expected to strengthen the advocacy on physical distancing and other preventive measures.
“Information about the symptoms, prevention and sample collection centres for individuals who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 will dominate the campaign.
”It has become imperative to penetrate communities with details that will attract the attention of residents to engender compliance with health experts’ directives on COVID-19,” he said.
The commissioner said the campaign was to further increase awareness on symptoms, prevention and sample collection centres so that Lagosians would be further equipped to combat the virus, especially at the critical stage of community transmission.
He reiterated the call by Gov. Sanwo-Olu that every Lagosian must ”take responsibility” in the fight against COVID-19.
Omotoso said the #maskup Lagos campaign would be taken across the entire state.
He called for public support in ensuring that the campaign was taken to every household.
According to him, the fight against COVID-19 will be won, if residents adhere strictly to the directives issued by the Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Lagos had its index COVID-19 case on Feb. 27, 2020, and presently has 1,480 patients on admission; 528 discharged and 33 deaths.
