The Nigerian Red Cross Society, Lagos Branch says it has trained 60 emergency response volunteers to enable them to acquire skills to curb cholera spread in communities. They were trained at a program tagged, ‘Training of Volunteers on Risk Communication and Community Engagement for the Cholera Outbreak’, held on Wednesday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the program was organized by the branch with support from the British Red Cross. The Chairman of the branch, Mrs Adebola Kolawole, told NAN that 20 volunteers were selected from each of three different local government areas – Kosofe, Eti-Osa and Lagos Island.
He said the volunteers were selected from the Red Cross divisions because cholera was more prevalent in them. The chairman said that the volunteers would go to various communities in the council areas for 20 days after the training, to engage them on issues regarding cholera. Kolawole explained, “This intervention is to sensitize our volunteers on what they need to know about cholera. “They will go into public places – marketplace, churches and mosques, and talk to them on how to prevent more outbreaks. “They will give them thorough enlightenment, sensitize and engage them one-on-one on hygiene.”
She said that the volunteers would also enlighten community members on the need to stop buying food from roadsides, and drinks not approved by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. The Secretary of the branch, Mr Olakunle Lasisi, told NAN that the training would influence behavioural changes, prevent misinformation and help members of the communities make informed choices.
He added, “The changes will lead to better ways of living and guard against the spread of cholera and other diseases.” Health Educator, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mr Badejo Olusegun, said, “Our sources of water must be safe and hygienic, and we should also make sure we are very observant of the places we eat or buy foods. “We should avoid meat or fish that is exposed to flies and make use of public toilets when on a journey and avoid open defecation.”
Participants at the training urged the state government to look into the sources of drinking water of the affected communities. They also urged the government to enforce hand-washing habits in schools to prevent the disease from spreading.
