PRESS
STATEMENT
Abuja,
Nigeria
31st
March, 2020
COVID-19:
Plan International declares a Red Alert Emergency, calls for inclusive approach
to response
Plan
International Nigeria has called on the federal government to be all inclusive
and strategic in its approach to combat the ravaging Coronavirus disease
(COVID-19) in the country.
The
organisation has globally declared a Red Alert Emergency on COVID-19 and in
Nigeria has committed to working with governments at all levels, pledging to
commit parts of it’s resources to task aimed at tackling the spread of the
virus.
In
a Policy Brief issues on the pandemic by the organisation titled “COVID-19: The
need for an Inclusive ‘People-Centric’ Approach”, Plan International Nigeria
called for decentralisation of testing centres to all the states of the
federation as well as giving accreditation to diagnostic centres and private
hospitals that have the capacity to be involved in testing.
Country
Director of Plan International Nigeria, Dr Hussaini Abdu in a statement
introducing the policy brief addressed at government and relevant non-state
actor appreciated the renewed commitment by the federal and state governments
and encouraging private sector interest in tackling the COVID-19 challenge
through the imposition of movement restrictions and social distancing.
Making
reference to the Policy Brief, Abdu advised that in the face of stringent
response by the government to the pandemic, it is critical that all containment
and mitigation policies, systems and actions pay adequate attention to concerns
of the poor, voiceless and vulnerable, especially women, adolescent girls.
“Central
to this response is the protection of the rights of people, especially
children, adolescent girls, IDPs, migrant communities, minorities, the poor and
vulnerable to their rights to life and dignity,” he said.
The
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is now tracing over 6,000 individuals
who may have been exposed to the more than 130 confirmed cases so far. The
country now has a huge task of combating a deadly disease with an extreme
tracking difficulty.
Abdu
particularly called for the protection of children, girls and women who often
are more at risk in emergency situations.
“It
is important to recognise that violence against women and girls (including
intimate partner violence) tends to increase during emergencies. The COVID-19
response must therefore provide mechanisms to ensure adequately resourced,
accessible and context sensitive essential services to address gender-based
violence (GBV). This can be done in collaboration and support from NGOs who
have capacity and experience in GBV response,” Abdu said.
He
emphasised the need for development partners, who have been major contributors
to the health sector over the years, to reprogram existing funding to support
the COVID-19 response. The development and humanitarian community must rise to
the occasion to support communities with public health information and
emergency relief, especially for the poor and the vulnerable, the country
director added.
“These
corporate bodies and individuals should also consider extending their support
through non-governmental organisations and other civil society groups who have
direct access and links to the vulnerable communities to avoid the bureaucracy
and possible abuses associated with government-led actions.
“The
lock-down in cities and major informal market centres will further compound the
condition of these groups. It is therefore important for the government to
invest and support the livelihoods of the poor and the vulnerable groups.”
=END=
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About
Plan International Nigeria
Plan International is an independent development and
humanitarian non-profit organisation that advances children’s rights and
equality for girls. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach
adulthood, and enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and
adversity. We believe in the power and potential of every child, but know this
is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination.
