Anap Foundation endorses COVID-19 health protection regulations

• Partners media houses on ‘name and shame’ initiative

The Anap Foundation COVID-19 Think Tank (the Anap Think Tank) has endorsed the COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations (2021) aimed at ensuring Nigerians adhere to public health advice to control the spread of coronavirus.

The Foundation, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Atedo Peterside and Vice Chairman, Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, said: “It is detailed and if adhered to, will go a long way towards protecting us from the second wave and the more infectious strains of the virus. However, we note with concern that these regulations are being openly flouted. While there is room for mass communication of the regulations – which mainly reiterate the popular, global advice about managing the pandemic (avoiding crowd, physical distancing, washing hands, wearing masks and so on) – we note that duty bearers and people in influential positions are particularly egregious in their disregard for public safety protocols.”

In furtherance of its objectives to promote behavioural change in managing the pandemic and ensuring effective stakeholders’ response to COVID-19, the Anap Think Tank announced their collaboration with the media to launch a “Name and Shame” Initiative.

According to the statement, the Name and Shame Initiative will highlight the non-compliance of newsmakers by: not covering events or denying media coverage of events where participants do not comply with the Health Protection Regulations; and spotlighting defaulters in the media.

It noted that Arise TV, Businessday Newspaper, Channels TV, Classic FM, Daily Trust Newspaper, Premium Times, TheCable, The Nation, This Day Newspaper and Vanguard Newspaper have agreed to join the initiative.

The foundation, therefore, urged all other media houses to consider signing up to join the Name and Shame Initiative.

“We must continue to act clever and take every opportunity to protect ourselves, neighbours and country. We cannot afford another lockdown, but we can also not afford to act like we are not in the middle of a global pandemic that has already claimed two million lives globally. Follow the Regulations. Mask up. Stay safe. Remain well and alive,” it noted.

The Anap Foundation COVID-19 Think Tank was established on March 22, 2020, to respond to COVID-19 pandemic and has 18 members drawn from across the six geo-political zones and the Diaspora (Germany and United States).