The management of Osun State University on Thursday held a sensitization campaign on the prevention against the spread of Coronavirus disease with the theme “COVID – 19: A bird’s eye view into an intriguing pandemic”.
It held at the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Auditorium, the main campus of the University to enlighten and answer queries on COVID-19, the trending global issue.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Labode Popoola, while welcoming guests from all works of life at the seminar said “Our greatest enemy right now is not the coronavirus itself, it’s the fear, rumours and stigma. He added that our greatest assets are facts, reason, and solidarity.
”It is as a result of this, that the unique University, a problem-solving University which is not just a university that is set up to teach students alone but to give back to the public, to enlighten and answer queries of the public on various issues that might have a negative effect on them.
”We care for the people by supporting them in various ways, enlighten the public and answer queries on this trending global issue,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr W.F Sule, a seasoned virologist from the department of Micro-biology at Osun State University said “Corona Virus is a harmful disease agent that we cannot see with our eyes.
”The risk assessment is very high at the global level and it has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).
”This virus can easily be transmitted through infected bodily fluids, through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, person to person contact, and contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.
The symptoms of this pandemic disease are fever, persistent sneezing, persistent coughing, headache, breathing difficulty and so on.
This COVID -19 can be prevented by maintaining good hygiene, covering of nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, keeping a social distance of 3ft, avoiding touching of one’s eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
”Others include avoiding crowded places, washing of hands with soap and water or the usage of alcohol-based hand sanitizer regularly, avoiding travelling to the affected area unless necessary, and seeking of medical attention when feeling sick.”
The Rural Water and Environmental Sanitation Agency (RUWESA) in the State of Osun also join the University by demonstrating and teaching the participants how to wash their hands properly and how to apply the alcohol-based hand sanitizers on their hands to be safe and avoid the spread of the disease.
Professor Labode Popoola, the Vice-Chancellor of the university distributed alcohol-based hand sanitizers and instructive fliers that contain information on how to stay safe to all the participants.
