In a bid to prevent the spread of Coronavirus disease among corps members, the NYSC management has begun sensitisation programmes and preventive measures at various camps across the country.
The NYSC Coordinator in Oyo State, Mrs Grace Ogbuogebe, made this known in an interview with Our Correspondent on Friday in Ibadan.
Ogbuogebe said that thermometers, wash hand basins as well as hand sanitisers had been provided in all the 37 orientation camps and NYSC secretariats nationwide.
Our Correspondent, who visited the Oyo state NYSC orientation camp in Iseyin, observed that thermometers, wash hand basins and hand sanitisers were positioned at the gate and other strategic points in the camp.
Ogbuogebe said the scheme had invited some medical experts from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, to sensitise corps members every morning and evening on what they must do to avoid contacting the virus.
“We want the corps members to eventually become Coronavirus vanguards; so those who had volunteered would be part of the vanguards.
“We will still give them special training again, apart from the general one.
“We will also dedicate certain CDS days to sensitisation seminars on the prevention of the virus.
“We shall invite well-informed resource persons to speak to our corps members on the causes and prevention as well,” she said.
The state coordinator assured parents and guardians of the corps members that there was no cause for alarm, saying that they (corps members) were carefully screened before being allowed into the camp.
Alhough she noted that the state had been generally peaceful, she, however, said that management would continue to liaise and partner with the state government and security agencies to ensure that members were protected in their host communities.
Ogbuogebe, who assumed office as the new state coordinator two weeks ago, also promised to ensure that cases of ill-health by some corps members were promptly attended to.
“The local government inspectors (LGIs) are to monitor their members with health challenges and sensitise them on the need to visit the nearest government hospital anytime they fall sick.
“On the issue of accommodation, we shall also ensure that preference is given to corps employers who provide accommodation for the corps members.
“Any corps employers, who reject corps members on basis of lack of accommodation, will be blacklisted.
“For Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, only registered and highly-skilled trainers were recruited to offer our corps members both in-camp and post-camp training.
“We shall also mandate LGIs to carry out compulsory and unscheduled inspection visit to the corps members’ SAED centres,” she said.
According to her, the welfare of the members was the utmost concern and priority of the scheme, while the state government was expected to do its best to ensure that the corps members’ monthly stipends were paid as and when due.
“Oyo state is relatively peaceful, hence corps members’ security is guaranteed. However, we have plans to fix the few challenges, which include lack of accommodation and rejection by some private employers,” she said.