Over the past two weeks, the Risk Communication and Community Engagement being conducted by Community Based Organizations across the 21 local governments of Kebbi State, continue to gather serious momentum and has received a warmth embrace by the community members. This was disclosed by the resource person of the Engagement Muhammed Nasir Karofi, at the end of a progress meeting of the engagement project.

The engagement which was an initiative of the Wife of Kebbi State Governor Her Excellency Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu was designed to ensure accurate and reliable information on Covid19 reached the nooks and crannies of the state. The 32 number CBOs participating are to conduct Risk Communication and community Engagement sessions for men and women in two communities for week over 3 months beginning from 11th of July, 2020. In summary, this project targeted to cover over 750 communities both urban and rural, more than 30,000 persons to be reached and provided with Facemasks to stimulate it’s use.

According to the reports rendered by the supervising CSOs over 100 sessions have so far been conducted in about 60 communities, over 1,000 units of face masks and 3,000 tablets of soap have been distributed.

“Consistent with the national response strategy on Covid19, each session of the engagement is expected to target not more than 20 attendees and social/physical distancing as well as use of Facemasks must be observed.” The Resource Person has said.

The meeting offered the opportunity to the CSOs to report on the advocacy visits they have undertaken to LGA stakeholders inorder to introduce the CBOs regarding the engagement exercise.
A further step down training and refresher for the CBOs on objectives and programme delivery strategy was also conducted by the CBOs.

“I am happy that our partners are keen in this project, WHO, UNICEF, Oxfam and Breakthrough Action have been very supportive technically but we need further support to augument the modest takeoff grant approved for this project by His Excellency the Kebbi State Governor Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.” Karofi added.

Sabatu Andrew
Press Secretary to Her Excellency Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu.