Covid-19: NASSLAF Urges Citizens To Observe Social Distancing Order, Adopt Proper Hygiene To Stay Safe

As the spread of Coronavirus continues to ravage the world, the National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum, South-West Caucuss has urged Nigerians to obey government’s instructions and follow basic personal hygiene habits.

The forum gave the charge on Wednesday in a statement signed by its Chairman, Abiodun Apantaku and Public Relations Officer 1, Opeyemi Oladimeji which was made available to CityMirrorNews in Abuja.

According to them, it was incumbent upon each and every member of the society to adhere strictly to the directive and precautionary measures put in place by the government to contain the spread of Coronavirus in the country.
The Legislative Aides expressed sadness over the Outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus, saying the virus which took the world by surprise few months ago, has now assumed the status of a pandemic.

The full statement:

The National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum, South-West Caucus under the leadership of Mr. Abiodun Apantaku, is saddened by the Coronavirus outbreak which is sweeping the whole world and leaving frightening casualties and fatalities in its trail. The deadly virus which took the whole world by surprise recently, has now assumed the status of a pandemic.

Since the December outbreak in Wuhan, China, the new coronavirus has spread rapidly, with more than 300,000 confirmed cases in 190 countries, including Nigeria, as of mid-March. In Nigeria, the number of cases grew from 3 to 12 within one week. As at today, the number has grown to 42, including a death case. Cases of the outbreak of the virus have been reported in some States in the country.

As an organisation committed to the welfare and wellbeing of all members and the entire populace, we urge all persons including religious gathering to observe all the necessary precautions against the pandemic, and to follow the guidelines for combating the disease.

Religious faithfuls are strongly cautioned against attending religious programmes especially if they are experiencing symptoms such as respiratory problems, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. We also advise religious organizations to abide by the guidelines and precautions stipulated by the authorities including suspending gathering of over 50 persons as advised by state governments.

As a precaution, if you think you may have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 and have symptoms, before going to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about your symptoms and any recent travel history. Additionally, preventative measures are your first line of defense.

The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to practice good hygiene and to make these NCDC recommendations part of your routine: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; if soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

Also, always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home when you are sick. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, rather than into your hands. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.”

While we commend the Federal Government and the leadership of the National Assembly for the giant strides in preventing the outbreak in the Country, and the efforts of the various committees constituted by the Federal government to decisively deal with the situation, we urged citizens to shun dissemination false information that is capable of causing panic in the polity, and only source for authentic information from the appropriate authorities.

More so, we wish to inform all members that despite the 14 days precautionary break embarked upon by the National Assembly, we continue to work in the best interest of our members and deliver on all the promises we’ve made towards bettering and continuous progress of our organisation.

Finally, we sympathize with the family of those who lost their loved ones and we pray for the speedy recovery of those still suffering from the disease.