COVID-19 PALLIATIVES: HDI, MAC ARTHUR FOUNDATION SUPPORT SCHOOL CHILDREN AND OTHERS IN RURAL AREAS ACROSS LAGOS

Human Development Initiatives, a non-governmental organization is embarking on a community intervention support program to 10 selected Local Government Education Authorities in Lagos State.

This call became necessary given the current Covid-19 challenge ravaging the world and the need to support government-led efforts to stem the tide of the pandemic especially in Lagos State which is hardest hit,

This was contained in a press release signed by Johnson Ibidapo, the program officer of the organization.

The statement reads in part, Human Development Initiatives (HDI) with the support of the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation is embarking on a community-based intervention program aimed at stopping the spread of this pandemic. The intervention program is expected to reach about 6,000 persons with facemasks (for adults and children), hand sanitizers, and handheld radios.

“Target beneficiaries of the intervention are rural dwellers in selected hard-to-reach communities. These communities are either riverine, slum/shanty. 

A total of 450 households are targeted to reach with the hand-held radios, while 5000 persons would receive facemasks and another 200 will receive hand sanitizers with about 1000 hand gloves up for distribution for the personal protection of beneficiaries, to curtail the spread of the Corona Virus Pandemic.

“Feelers from many rural dwellers some of who monitor UBE projects for Human Development Initiatives in these areas have complained of exclusion especially in the distribution of palliatives given out by several bodies and agencies. The feeling of exclusion is further worsened by the nation-wide lockdown which has restricted movement and paralyzed economic activities throughout the state and the nation at large.

Children in government primary schools would be given hand-held, battery-powered radios to support the government’s On-air school broadcast daily on the radio. The general community members are targeted with facemasks and hand sanitizers.

"This program is expected to take place in 20 selected communities of 10 Local Government Education Authorities of Lagos State. The selected communities in each LGEA and the dates of intervention are shown below:"

SN	LGEA	COMMUNITY	DATE/TIME
1	Apapa	1.  Badia (slum area) 2.  Nanti Village (Riverine  Area)	Monday 15thJune
2	Shomolu	1.  Ilaja (Slum) 2.  AgoEgun village  (Riverine)	Wed 17th June
3	Mushin	1.  Idioro 2.  Idiaraba(both slum areas)	Friday 19th June
4	Surulere	1) Johnson Street by ImmamDauda 2) Teniola Street Ijeshatedo	Mon 22nd June
5	Kosofe	1.  Agboyi Ketu community 2.  AJIBOLA Ayedere down mile12	Wed 24th June
6	Eti-Osa	1). Tarkwa Bay - RIVERINE 2). IlajeAjah - shanty/slum	Friday 26th June
7	Amuwo-Odofin	1.  Monkey Village (Slums) 2.  Igboalejo (riverine)	Mon 29th June
8	Ibeju-Lekki	1.  Arapagi (Riverine) 2.  Eleko (slum)	Wed July 1
9	Ojo	1.  Drogba CDA Ijanikin 2.  Moba CDA	Fri 3rd July 2020
10	Ajeromi-Ifelodun	1.  Holy Land (Slum) 2.  Idi-Ori (Swamp)	Tue 7th July 2020

Johnson added that, "It is our hope that this effort will help to curb the spread of the Corona Virus Pandemic in our beloved Lagos State, while we pray for the speedy recovery of all who are already infected by the novel virus."

Human Development Initiatives (HDI) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental Organisation, established in 1997 but became fully registered in 1998 with the goal of strengthening vulnerable humans in society. HDI envisions a society of empowered humans devoid of social and economic vulnerabilities.