Summary

The ESUT IEEE SIGHT project, sponsored by IEEE HAC|SGHT, aimed to provide locally made alcohol-based sanitizers and radio sensitization to two rural communities, Umulumgbe and Amansiodo Imezi, in Enugu State, Nigeria, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The project successfully produced and provided sanitizers to the communities and created informational content to be shared on the radio in local dialects. The impact of the project was significant, as it helped to educate the communities on the COVID-19 pandemic and how to prevent its spread.

Project Description

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people all over the world, and Nigeria is no exception. However, rural communities like Umulumgbe and Amansiodo Imezi in Enugu State have limited access to information and resources to prevent the spread of the virus. To address this issue, the ESUT IEEE SIGHT project aimed to provide locally made alcohol-based sanitizers and radio sensitization to these communities.

The project team first conducted a needs assessment to determine the communities’ needs and challenges. They found that many people did not have access to sanitizers and face masks and had limited understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team then decided to produce alcohol-based sanitizers and distribute them to the communities.

To create the sanitizers, the team sourced materials locally and followed the World Health Organization’s guidelines for producing hand sanitizers. The sanitizers were packaged in small bottles and distributed to the communities for free. The team also created informational content to be shared on the radio in local dialects, educating the communities on the COVID-19 pandemic and how to prevent its spread.

Impact

The project had a significant impact on the communities of Umulumgbe and Amansiodo Imezi. The provision of locally made hand sanitizers helped to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as many people did not have access to sanitizers or could not afford to buy them. The radio sensitization campaign was also effective, as it helped to educate the communities on the COVID-19 pandemic and how to prevent its spread. This information was particularly useful for people who had limited understanding of the pandemic.

The project team conducted an evaluation of the project’s impact and found that the communities’ awareness and knowledge of COVID-19 increased significantly. People reported that they were now more likely to use sanitizers and wear face masks, and some even started to make their own sanitizers. The project also helped to build trust between the communities and the project team, as people saw the team’s commitment to improving their lives.

Conclusion

The ESUT IEEE SIGHT project, sponsored by IEEE HAC|SGHT, successfully provided locally made alcohol-based sanitizers and radio sensitization to two rural communities in Enugu State, Nigeria. The project had a significant impact on the communities, helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and increasing awareness and knowledge of the pandemic. The project team’s commitment to improving the communities’ lives helped to build trust and foster a sense of community ownership of the project. Overall, the project was a success and demonstrated the importance of community-led initiatives in addressing public health challenges.