RCCE Inaugurates Risk Comm Clubs On COVID-19 In Schools
The Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Pillar has inaugurated Risk Communication Clubs in Schools in the State.
The Schools include: Community Secondary School (CSS) Nkpolu, Oroworukwo; Model Girls’ Secondary School, Rumueme; Community Secondary School (CSS), Rumuopirikom; and Government Girls’ Secondary School, JSS UBE, Rumuokwuta.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Port- Harcourt, a member of the RCCE team, Tonjo Harry, stated that the essence is to make young students agents of change that will lend their voice to risk communication and to be ambassadors of same in the society.
”If Children are indeed agents of change, then we need to bring them on track to enable them sustain the vision in their various schools”, he said.
Explaining further, the Risk Communication Club, Mr Tonjo stated, “is beyond COVID-19. It covers all forms of risks, including child abuse, rape, molestation and gender-based violence and discrimination”.
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He urged the students to champion the fight against all forms of negative social vices capable of causing mental and psychological breakdown in children.
On how the club would be sustained beyond the COVID-19 pandemic era, he said that RCCE, through its Rapid Response Team (RRT), plans a proper training after the on-going examinations and full resumption, adding that they also would collaborate with all relevant MDAs, as well as maintain communication strategies.
While expressing gratitude to RCCE for setting up the Risk Communication Clubs and for giving them a first-hand insight on COVID-19 prevention, the Principal, CSS, Rumuopirikom , Mrs Dora Irikana, and the Vice Principal, CSS, Nkpolu Oroworukwo, Mrs Ethel Chukwu, who spoke with the RCCE Media Team, called for the extension of the club membership across other classes, beyond students in exit classes.
They assured to make the club operational when the schools finally resume, saying that at the moment, they are in preparation for their junior WASSCE examination scheduled to begin from Monday, September 7, 2020.
In unison, they said their schools have been observing the social distancing, wearing of face mask and regular hand washing protocols to prevent the students from contacting the virus.
