Prince Mendy Archibong, Managing Director of Good Time Paint and Allied Products Industry Limited fielding questions from journalists after the sensitisation.
By Abasifreke Effiong – Uyo
An industrialist, Prince Mendy Archibong has sponsored public health educators to mount a sensitization on COVID-19 for schools in rural communities in Akwa Ibom state.
The one day sensitization exercise held on Thursday 26th March, targeted secondary schools in rural communities in Ikot Ekpene and Obot Akara local government areas.
Obot Akara is mainly a rural local government lying at the border between Akwa Ibom and Abia state.
The sensitization which saw the distribution of hand sanitizers, disinfectant, disposable nose mask and hand gloves to students and teachers was a trail blazing private citizen’s initiative since the scare of the COVID-19 pandemic in Akwa Ibom state became overwhelming.
Prince Mendy Archibong, (right) watches as the public health educators demonstrated hand washing practice to students during the COVID-19 sensitisation.
The sponsor of the sensitisation, Prince Mendy Archibong, Managing Director of Good Time Paint and Allied Products Industry Limited, said there is need for everyone to pay more attention to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the schools visited, Lutheran High School, Ikot Obong Edong in Ikot Ekpene local government area, Comprehensive Secondary school, Ikpe Mbak Eyop, Obot Akara local government area, management said they were happy that a private citizen was taking the initiative to mount a sensitization on the COVID-19 pandemic for schools.
The principal of Lutheran High School, Ikot Obong Edong, Ikot Ekpene, Mr. Emmanuel Udo, lauded the initiative which he said should have been carried out by the state ministry of education.
“When I saw the team, I thought it was from the Ministry of Education or Health; I didn’t know that it was a private initiative.”
“If you do not love your people, you would not suspend all your endeavours and spend your resources to carry out this sensitisation…it shows you don’t want your people to perish that is why you have given them information about this deadly virus.”
Udo said teachers and the students will spread the message about the pandemic to their respective communities.
Principal of Lutheran High School, Ikot Obong Edong, Ikot Ekpene, Mr. (left) receiving some of the disinfectants and hand sanitizers presented by Prince Mendy Archibong to the school.
At Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikpe Mbak Eyop, Obot Akara local government which the principal, Mr. Raphael Akpan, said has the largest population of students, teachers and students were excited about the sensitization as well as the hygiene and safety kits donated by Prince Mendy Archibong.
The principal represented by the vice principal administration, Mr. Imoh Bassey Udoh, said the exercise was coming at the right time.
“This kind of help will spread to the community. This sensitization has come at the right time.”
Prince Archibong took the sensitisation visit to the Paramount Ruler of Obot Akara local government area, His Royal Majesty Okuku Uwah Umoh Adiaka where he presented disinfectant and hand sanitizer to him.
While commending him for sacrificing his resources and time for his people in the face of the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, HRM Adiaka, called on political office holders across the state to emulate the gesture to prevent an outbreak of the epidemic which he said would overwhelm available health facilities in the state.
“What you have done is greater than sharing money. People will take this one and survive, if they heed your advice, they will live. This is what our politicians among other public office holders should have done right from when the news of the virus began but unfortunately, no one has done that in Obot Akara.
“We are proud of you for taking it upon yourself to walk under the scorch of the sun to sensitize your mothers, fathers, your brothers and sisters on how to stay alive. And you crown it all by giving them preventive materials against the virus. Your effort can never be in vain. God will definitely bless you.”
Prince Mendy Archibong presenting disinfectant and hand sanitizers to the Paramount Ruler of Obot Akara, HRM Uwah Umoh Adiaka.
In an interaction with journalists, the facilitator of the sensitisation, Prince Mendy Archibong, said he initiated the rural schools sensitisation on the COVID -19 pandemic to keep students and teachers abreast of the virus.
He said students who are the future leaders needed to be protected jealously.
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While commending the state government for putting necessary facilities and plans in place in case of a possible outbreak of the pandemic, Mendy emphasized that the fight against the virus must not be left totally in the hands of government if it must be won.
The entrepreneur called on other public spirited individuals in the state to support the government reach out to people in the face of the global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The little effort we contribute in our society can go a long way. I call on all public spirited individuals to pick up from where we have started. Bettering the lives of people is what should really matter.”
Prince Mendy Archibong, said he will continue to contribute his quota towards the welfare and advancement of his people.
Public health educators who handled the sensitization, Mr. Ekponoabasi James from Ultimate Care Foundation and Inemesit Jerome from TheraHub Africa, demonstrated acceptable hand washing with soup and water, how to use of sanitizers, proper use of disinfectant on surfaces as well as proper use of personal protective equipment including hand gloves, disposal face mask.
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They advised the students and teachers to observe acceptable social distancing, personal and respiratory hygiene which include regular hand washing with soap under running water and the use of hand sanitizer where there is no water coupled with sanitizers on surfaces.
The public health educators encouraged anyone with symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty in breathing, malaise, catarrh or runny nose, sneezing, to contact the state epidemiologist or the nearest hospital.
Highpoint of the event were the demonstration of acceptable social distancing, coughing method and the distribution of hand sanitizers, disinfectant, hand gloves and disposable nose mask.
