by Moses Emorinken,
THE Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) yesterday warned that should Nigerians disobey extant non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), especially during the Yuletide celebrations, the result could be a surge in COVID-19 infections and deaths.
It decried the non-adherence of the citizens to the NPIs like regular hand-washing with soap under flowing water, use of hand sanitisers, proper wearing of face masks, practising social distancing and avoiding large gatherings.
I, therefore, urged Nigerians to take special precautions during the Yuletide celebrations to avoid a surge in COVID-19 infections and deaths, particularly by the Omicron and Delta variants, in January next year.
Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC), Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, stated these during a virtual engagement meeting with People With Disabilities (PWDs), facilitated by the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD).
Adetifa, who was represented by the Head of Risk Communication Division at the NCDC, Dr. Yahaya Disu, said: “The yuletide season is capable of increasing the spread of COVID-19. This could mean a lot of trouble for Nigerians in January. We do not want the experience of what happened in January 2021 to repeat itself next year.
“We want to make sure that persons with disability participate fully and meaningfully in our planning and implementation of programmes, not just for COVID-19, but for other infectious diseases. It is their right to have access to health.
“For COVID-19, there has been a rise in cases across the globe, especially as a result of the Omicron variant that is spreading faster. Now, we are hearing that it causes fewer deaths. Therefore, if it spreads faster, we will have more cases, and there are chances that we will have more deaths. At the end of the day, it may still equate that of the Delta variant because the more the spread, the more it will infect the vulnerable ones who are hypertensive, diabetes or have one form of comorbidities.
“The best we can do is to make sure we prevent this. The reality in the country is that Nigerians have no regard for non-pharmaceutical interventions, against the backdrop of our low vaccination coverage. We can sit and fold our hands. We have to work with all stakeholders – government authorities, partners, non-governmental organisations, traditional and religious organisations etc., to ensure the right messages are passed and the understanding of these messages, to save the lives of everyone.
“The role that persons with disability have to play cannot be over-emphasised because they are part of the community – live and work in the community, so whatever happens in the community affects them. They have roles to play in the overall response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
