Stakeholders have called for reinforcement of Covid-19 safety measures in schools and workplaces amid concerns over rising infections and growing complacency in adherence to public health protocols across communities nationwide.
They made the call in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, emphasising the need for renewed vigilance to prevent another wave of infections.
The call followed recent confirmation of Covid-19 case by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) in Cross River state, raising fresh concerns about possible resurgence of the virus.
During the pandemic, strict hygiene protocols, including hand-washing stations, use of sanitisers, face masks, and physical distancing, were widely enforced across schools, workplaces, and public institutions nationwide.
However, visits by NAN correspondents to selected schools and workplaces revealed that many of those measures had been abandoned, with limited adherence to hygiene practices and safety guidelines.
Hand-washing stations were largely absent in many hospitals, schools, and workplaces, while public gatherings now occur with little or no regard for physical distancing or preventive measures.
A teacher at L.E.A. Nomadic Primary School, Dakwa, Mr. Naim Magaji, attributed the decline in compliance to reduced fear and absence of enforcement by relevant authorities.
“We took it very seriously before because the government made us, but we are now relaxed because we rarely hear of incidents of the crisis. The authorities no longer go around enforcing it,” he said.
He noted how reduced monitoring had contributed to declining adherence to Covid-19 safety protocols among the public.
A mother of four, Mrs. Blessing Kenneth, said economic hardship had made it difficult for families to prioritise hygiene materials such as sanitisers and disinfectants amid competing household needs.
“Why would I buy these items when we need to feed the family and buy other important things?” she asked, reflecting the financial constraints facing many households.
Ms. Franca Ofili of Health Desk, NAN, said she still maintained handwashing habits after outings, but noted resistance from others who believed COVID-19 was no longer a threat.
“Immediately I go out and come back, I ask for water to wash my hands and encourage my maid to do the same, but she always says her hands are clean.
“Covid-19 no longer exists,” she said.
She underscored the persistent misconceptions and declining risk perception among members of the public in various communities.
A public health expert at Right Care Hospital, Dr. Sam Akanni, said measures such as hand-washing, face masks and sanitisers remain effective in reducing transmission of respiratory infections, including Covid-19, especially in crowded environments.
“These practices can reduce the chances of infected droplets being passed from one person to another, particularly in crowded places like schools, markets and workplaces,” he said.
Akanni warned that abandoning basic hygiene practices could increase the spread of Covid-19 and other infectious diseases, and urged the public to maintain vigilance and adhere to recommended safety protocols.
He emphasised regular hand-washing, use of alcohol-based sanitisers, proper respiratory etiquette, and clean environments, calling on institutions to provide sanitation facilities and sustain public awareness to safeguard public health.
