Coronavirus spread: NAWOJ inaugurates task force

Worried over the increasing cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), on Thursday inaugurated a 7-member National Task Force, to create more awareness on ways of curtailing spread of the disease.

This was contained in a statement signed by NAWOJ’s National Secretary, Ladi Bala, on Thursday in Abuja.

“We saw the need for the national body to contribute its quota, as professionals and as mothers, to campaign against coronavirus, with confirmed cases on the increase daily nationwide.

“We are giving priority to creating awareness and sensitising the public about the novel coronavirus pandemic that is affecting human lives and economies globally.

“It will be based on the guidelines provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), with a view to preventing its spread in the country.”

It added that the association would produce jingles in Pidgin English and local languages for broadcast on television and radio stations nationwide, as well as sensitise the public, markets and other places to create awareness from May 4, when the lockdown would have been eased.

It further called on state chairpersons of NAWOJ to liaise with relevant individuals, government agencies and groups, to provide palliatives to deserving members in the various states and FCT as part of the Action Plan of the committee.

The committee would be headed by the National President of the association, Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, and six other members.

The NCDC, as at 11:55 p.m., April 29, reported 1,728 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 307 discharged persons and 51 deaths.