In April 2020, a medic in northern Nigeria, Aliyu Yakubu, became the first doctor to die of coronavirus in the country. A week later, Dr. Emeka Chugbo, a 60-year-old doctor, died three days after being admitted to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital — he too had contracted the dreaded coronavirus; his friend, who revealed that the doctor had a history of asthma, described him as “brilliant”.
Since the heat of the pandemic in April, the slow spiral has steadily continued, and by July 2020 — according to the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals — 150 health workers had tested positive for COVID-19, and 25 of them sadly lost their lives. Yet, our health practitioners across the country return to work each day, fighting, because they swore an oath to save lives.
One of the greatest ways to reduce these deaths and the risk of infection is through the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)? Yet, these materials are insufficient to adequately protect health workers and the general populace. From surgical masks to scrubs, gowns, head covers, etc., up to 85% of health workers across a number of south-west states in Nigeria do not have the required PPE to protect themselves against the virus.
Dr. Mattew J.O. of Tofunmi Medical Center, Ibadan, wearing the headcover donated by Project Safeup.
As part of its contributions to the fight against the pandemic and in an effort to contain its spread, My World of Bags (MWOB), a bag design and manufacturing company, is partnering with Mastercard Foundation on an initiative to address this problem — Project SafeUp.
The staff of Tofunmi Medical Center, Ibadan, Oyo State, with Mayowa Odeyemi, Research Lead, Project SafeUp, (left) during the distribution process wearing the Project SafeUp head cover.
Through Project SafeUp, MWOB will produce and distribute a staggering 2.5 million PPE items, free-of-charge, to health workers and the general public across South-West Nigeria, including Oyo, Lagos, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, and other states in need. The PPE to be produced includes reusable non-surgical masks, face shields, gowns and scrubs, and shoe and head covers.
Dr. Eniola of Mercyland Hospital, Ibadan inspecting the PPE delivered by the Project SafeUp team
According to NCDC, by November, Nigeria had recorded over 65,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with over 1,000 people dead. As our healthcare workers continue to fight to curb the pandemic, it is our duty to join in the fight however we can. Project SafeUp is committed to being part of the solution by continuing to build awareness on the impact of the pandemic, while and to encouraging the adoption of health safety measures by public Nigerian across the country.
A sample of the Project SafeUp shoe cover worn by a nurse at Agbowo Primary Health Centre Ibadan.