INTRODUCTION

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted upon the world in several ways. Here in Sokoto State as at today, 10 people have already been infected and tested positive. In view of the above, youths and other Civil Society Organisations formed the #SokotoFacemasks Campaign.

Objectives of the Campaign.

1. To mobilise youths and civil Society organisations with the view of massive awareness creation on the use of facemasks in Sokoto State via the use of social media, radio and TV stations

2. To encourage the production of face masks and its distribution to communities in the State.

3. To strategically engaged various groups with the view of ensuring the implementation of hand washing, social distancing and other preventive measures.

4. To give accurate information, allay anxiety and clear all misinformations and misconceptions

5. To support all measures taken so far by Sokoto State government under the leadership of his excellency , Rt Honourable Aminu Waziri Tambuwal .

The stakeholders meeting which took place online, discussed ways and strategies through which the campaign will achieve its objectives and support efforts of the government.

The following are suggestions on ways to achieve success as presented by stakeholders for each of the objectives:

1. To mobilise youths and civil Society organisations with the view of massive awareness creation on the use of facemasks in Sokoto State via the use of social media, radio and TV stations

– Radio

– Television

– Social media flyers

– Social media influencers to post and to tag and be tagged

– To use or sickle cell ambassadors and other existing structures

– Members should write about #SokotoFaceMasks every day and make it WhatsApp status update

– Use of hand bills and posters

2. To encourage the production of face masks and its distribution to communities in the State.

– to have support from government/ ministry of health

– support from donor agencies

– request donations from masses

– members to contribute individually from their pockets

– to request donations from pharmaceutical companies

– communities should improvise using handkerchiefs and rubber bands

– mobilise tailors to produce facemasks using locally sourced materials

– to produce advert/promotions e.g. 2 minutes

3. To strategically engaged various groups with the view of ensuring the implementation of hand washing, social distancing and other preventive measures.

– to meet leaders of various associations e.g. NURTW, KABU KABU, MARKET LEADERS, MECHANICS, KEKENAPEP, BARBERS, HAIR DRESSERS, HANDSET ASSOCIATIONS etc.

– to send out our organization account numbers

4. To give accurate information, allay anxiety and clear all misinformations and misconceptions

– Use strategies in 1, 2 and 3 above

– some have misinformation: not real; not all confirmed cases are in severe clinical conditions; coronavirus not a death sentence; conspiracy theories to kill muslims

5. To support all measures taken so far by Sokoto State government under the leadership of his excellency , Rt Honourable Aminu Waziri Tambuwal .

– Government to improve on palliatives/food

– Government to intensify media campaigns

– Provision of more testing centres

– T-shirts/Face caps for the campaign

– Provision of transportation for campaigns and logistics

-Borders should be fully closed

STRATEGY:

– To mobilise and engage 23,000 volunteers within Sokoto State. 1,000 volunteers from each LGA.

– To train them on how to achieve above objectives using online media

– To ensure each ward in the State has representatives

– To assist in contact tracing

– To report cases of returnees and suspected cases.

Signed

Dr Auwal Ahmed Musa

Convener, #SokotoFaceMasks

Executive Director

The Productive Youths Development Initiative