A new research conducted by Lawyers Alert has shown that vulnerable groups are not adhering to the COVID-19 preventive measures, especially the wearing of face masks in public spaces in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighbouring Nasarawa State.
The study, which was premiered on Monday, in a documentary on the use of face masks, showed that people moved about the streets without using face masks, and with the mindset that COVID-19 no longer exists in the country.
The Project Manager of Lawyers Alert on the Use of Face Masks, Elvis Torkuma, said the organisation went to the rural areas to talk to vulnerable people and know how they were living with COVID-19, especially on the use of face masks.
“We decided to start out our fact-finding in areas like Zuba, Mararaba and Lugbe that are in the outskirts of the FCT and Nasarawa State because people in these areas do not have access to first-class information,” he said.
He said the objective of the study was to get the findings documented, share them with partners and other relevant agencies to see how they could come together and work towards compliance in the use of face masks to reduce the spread of the disease.
“Based on our research findings with the persons we interacted, we feel information about COVID-19 was done at a higher level and did not reach the grassroots where the information is needed the most.
“As a human right organisation, we are concerned about persons with disabilities, vulnerable people. The COVID-19 pandemic hit these communities but they do not know anything about the virus,” he said.
Torkuma urged the government to engage community-based organisations, civil society organizations that work with the community and religious leaders to sensitize and give the people materials and resources.
The president of the organisation, Rommy Mom, who was represented by Omotola Omotayo, said it was important for the vulnerable groups to be informed.
“Lawyers Alert is not going to stop at solving the poverty of Nigeria, we will still continue to create more awareness and findings using the media to reach out to the government agencies like the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and more partners so that they can work with us in going to the grassroots, probably with materials and other things.
“Some people are tired of using the face mask and some do not have money. By addressing this, we need these bodies to discuss these issues and know the way forward,” she added.
