DRASA ADMIN

Every year on October 15th we celebrate a special day – Global Handwashing Day! This year, due to the End SARS protests and unrest across Nigeria, we were not able to hold an event on the exact day, so instead we had our event on the 11th of November. We partnered with Ikeja Electric and Kleanmate to visit Ipodo market where we were able to speak to men and women leaders in the market. We taught them the proper way to wash their hands and the importance of handwashing. Our goal was to make them understand the important role they play in improving health in our communities through the way they handle food items and demonstrate the right healthy behaviors – especially during this pandemic. But we didn’t just teach them, we also had a pop quiz! Prizes were given to those who were able to correctly answer questions that tested their knowledge on key times for handwashing, correct method and steps for handwashing, proper mask use, and other important information. Join us to spread the message of staying healthy and safe in your community.

6 years ago today, Nigeria was declared Ebola-free. Exactly 1 year after that, DRASA Health Trust was born to honor the legacy of Dr. Adadevoh and the other health workers who lost their lives in the fight against Ebola. What Have We Done in 5 Years? As with all “newborns” it took us a few months to get going, but since our first programs launched in early 2016, we’ve been on the move – growing and reaching more communities and individuals with every passing year. Here’s a recap of the last 5 years in numbers:   What’s Next for DRASA? Today more than ever, we’re committed to ensuring the sacrifices of our country’s fallen heroes were not in vain. We’ll keep pushing forward until we have a safe and healthy society for all. As always, we’re doing our part by working with schools, communities and health facilities, but we’re also making good progress with our plans to set up Nigeria’s first Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Simulation Training Center: we’re 43% of the way there so stay tuned for updates. It’s been an amazing journey so far and we thank all our donors, partners, supporters and volunteers. We could not be where we are today without your ongoing contributions and dedication. Happy 5th birthday to us and cheers to many more years of impact ahead!

In March we posted an update sharing what we were doing as part of the Lagos State Response Team to support the fight against COVID-19, but since then so much has happened! As July begins and we enter the second half of 2020, we’ve reflected on our COVID-19 activities and here’s a quick overview of what we’ve accomplished so far: BUILDING CAPACITY Trained and equipped 1,583 health personnel on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) INSPECTING INFRASTRUCTURE Assessed construction and set up of 35 isolation and quarantine facilities DEVELOPING POLICIES Supported the development of 16 Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) guidelines and SOPs INCREASING AWARENESS Educated and prepared 485 personnel from hospitality, aviation, and education sectors as they prepare to resume post-lockdown WHAT’S NEXT? Train and equip 10,000 health workers every year through Nigeria’s First-Ever Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Simulation Center Right now, we’re working 7 days a week to ensure we do our part to slow the spread and save lives and we’re not slowing down any time soon! So stay tuned and check out the gallery below to see some of our activities so far:

COVID-19 is a new coronavirus that has raised lots of questions. The information gaps have quickly led to rumors and misinformation so we took some time to answer some frequently asked questions. Does garlic prevent you from getting coronavirus?No. Garlic contains compounds with potent medicinal properties and is highly nutritious. However, there is no evidence that eating garlic has protected people from the coronavirus. What’s the difference between isolation and quarantine?“Isolation” is used for someone who is sick while “quarantine” is used for someone who seems healthy but might become sick. Isolation separates people with a contagious disease from healthy people to contain the spread. Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who have been exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. Will flu shots help reduce the chances of contracting the virus?No. The flu vaccine is designed to prevent infections with influenza viruses, which are very different from coronaviruses. It can only help reduce the number of influenza cases during this COVID-19 outbreak. What does ‘herd immunity’ mean?Herd immunity occurs when a large percentage of the population becomes infected and then survives, thus becoming immune to a virus. The virus then stops spreading because not enough people are available to transmit the disease. Is drinking a lot of water effective in washing down the virus from one’s throat?No. Drinking a lot of water is good to keep the body hydrated but once the virus enters into the body, it goes into the airway and no amount of water can be used to wash the virus out of the body. Can I wear a face shield without a mask?No! The eyes, nose and mouth are the 3 entry points for COVID-19, however the nose and mouth are the main points. Protecting the eyes alone and […]