Muslim group urges Plateau communities to adhere to COVID-19 protocols

The Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN), Plateau State chapter, has urged communities in the state and beyond to  obey COVID-19 protocols.

The group said the call became necessary following the realisation of how people were reckless about the dreaded disease in many communities of the state.

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Discussing the rates of infections at a one-day symposium it organised, Mr. Shehu Sani, a member of the group and a staff of the Aids Prevention Initiatives in Nigeria (APIN), Jos University Teaching Hospital, said it was necessary for all and sundry to adhere to all protocols of COVID-19.

Sani, who expressed concern over the nonchalant attitude of some people, added that people, most especially  children and the elderly, needed to be properly looked after and ensure they observe the protocols to ensure their safety and control of the disease.

In his remark, the IMAN Secretary, and a community health expert, Malam Tijjani Ibrahim, said the association will continue to embark on sensitisation of communities, on the importance of geriatric as well as infectious diseases.

He said, “It is part of IMAN’s objectives to sensitise, the general public as we have done it today, and we will continue to do it with the aim at seeing to the  prevention of infectious diseases and their control.

The IMAN Chairman, and a lecturer with the University of Jos, Prof. Muhammad Sabo, said it was the responsibility of the younger ones to ensure that the  living standard of the elderly was adequately taken care of.

“Not only that we should be able to provide them with food, but that we must also know what type of food the old people need as nutrients to their body,” Dr. Sabo said.

He said, besides nutrition, elderly persons also needed special care and attention by identifying some of their common problems.

“Social, physical, psychological, mental, medical as even surgical related diseases, need to be identified and provided as geriatric management, mostly amongst Muslim ummah,” he added.