Lagos State First Lady, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu on Thursday emphasised the need for residents of the State to imbibe the habit of regular handwashing with soap and water as well as lots of fruits intake to build immunity against Coronavirus disease also known as Covid-19.
Sanwo-Olu, who spoke at a Special Sanitation Visit of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) to Tejuosho Ultra-Modern Market in Yaba, said it was important for people to adequately fortify themselves to be on a sound footing to ward off any threat of disease.
According to the Governor’s wife, who is also the Chairman of COWLSO, market sanitation remains a critical factor in protecting the health of residents, and the government would do everything possible to ensure hygiene in markets across the State in line with the Health and Environment component of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of the present administration.
In her words “Coming into the market this morning, I saw a banner placed at the entrance gate to educate the people about the Coronavirus and I must commend you for that because it is important for the markets to be clean. It is also important for people to imbibe the habit of regular washing of hands with soap and water. It is very important that we should all be aware that as long as we are eating clean and healthy vegetables and fruits, we would be able to increase our immunity so that we will be strong to fight the virus”.
“As a matter of fact, this time around we need a double dose of clean vegetables; a double dose of fruits and for the Doctors, we would recommend Vitamin C to build your immunity and even when you have any of the attack-like coughs and so on, it would run its course and not stay in your body. By the grace of God, we are going to ensure that everybody fortifies their body by eating well, eating clean food and being in a clean environment; that is why we are starting with the markets because most people come to the market to buy things and there will also be a reward for the cleanest market in the State,” she said.
The First Lady added that in line with the ongoing campaign to end Tuberculosis, it was equally essential to educate the people that they should use handkerchiefs to cover their mouths when coughing and in case that is not available, the hand or elbow as well as regular medical checkup, should be used to prevent the spread of the disease.
Sanwo-Olu also commended the Babaloja and Iyaloja of Tejuosho market for maintaining a clean environment, just as she urged them to go further to ensure that the shop owners in adjoining areas of the market also key into the efforts to foster a cleaner environment.
Responding, Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Mr Tajudeen Ajide commended the First Lady for choosing the market in the Council as the first point of call for the sanitation visitation, saying it was clear that the health of residents was a priority to the COWLSO leadership.
On her part, Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Chief (Mrs) Folashade Tinubu-Ojo said the initiative of COWLSO to visit the market and play up sanitation was in line with the vision of market leadership in the State to ensure that hygiene is accorded the needed priority.
