SSDO NEWSLETTER, VOLUME 5, ISSUE 11.

Welcome!

Handwashing is critical to preventing illnesses, especially COVID-19. Proper handwashing can reduce the rate of diarrhea by 40% and respiratory infection by 20%. In fact, 50% of food-related illnesses are because of poor hand hygiene. This was the message we took to Igbariam Primary School, Enugu South LGA to commemorate Global Handwashing Day.

In this issue, we also examine SSDO’s impact on the girl child as we create an enabling environment for girls and kids at large to learn in school and out of school through the kids club. Also, we understand that child sexual abuse lingers in society because the community is not adequately equipped to handle such issues. Find out what we did to remediate that in Enugu South, Nkanu West, and Nkanu East LGAs.

The Anambra election draws ever close and more questions than answers are evident. IPOB threatens a forced election boycott. Will that solve the problem? We analyze a possible government response.

There are animals and insects you’ve sure been wondering, “What is their usefulness?”. We take a look into the usefulness of the vulture in the ecosystem and how we partnered with Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) to protect them.

Global Handwashing Day Advocacy and Outreach at Igbariam Primary School, Enugu South LGA.

an effective way to prevent diseases.

South Saharan Social Development Organization in partnership with WaterAid Nigeria organized a school outreach at Igbariam Primary school, Enugu South LGA to teach the kids the importance of handwashing especially in the COVID19 era.

The sensitization and awareness continued on the radio, where a team of Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) experts were on hand to educate the audience on the importance of handwashing as well as this year’s theme, “Our future is at Hand – Let’s move forward together.”

International Day of the Girl Child: SSDO’s Impact

The girl child faces different challenges associated with their gender and age. In many developing  countries,  the  girl  child  is  often  at  a  huge  disadvantage.  Data from UNICEF shows that 6.3 million girls in Nigeria are out of school. UNESCO indicates that less than 40% of countries worldwide provide girls and boys with equal access to information.

The longer girls are out of school, the higher the probability of child marriages and violence against children. Educating the girl child improves their earning potential and helps them have a say in decisions that affect their future. It improves the economy and reduces inequality. The better-educated girls are, the better their family and the community become, as they will be direct beneficiaries of the skills they will contribute to society.school. Providing an opportunity for them to reach their full potential. This has been one of our key focus areas as an organization. Ensuring the development of women and children through our various projects.

Tackling Child Abuse and Sexual Harassment Through Community Mechanisms.

Research carried out by UNICEF in 2015 shows that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 10 boys in Nigeria have experienced sexual violence before the age of 18. With the drastic increase in the rate of violence against women and girls during the lockdown, you can be sure these numbers have increased. Before the pandemic, one in three women experiences physical violence by a partner.

According to a report by the Center for Global Development, violence against women and children quadrupled during the pandemic. Children have always been a target for pedophiles because of their innocence and vulnerability. Often, these predators ride on the naivety of the children and compel them not to talk. Many of who live with the guilt for the rest of their life. Sometimes, the children blame themselves for the incident or, in some other cases, care for their abusers and do not want them to get into trouble. It is imperative that parents and guardians are very observant and pay close attention to behavioral patterns in their wards. Signs to look out for include children being aggressive, withdrawn, clingy, or having difficulties sleeping.

A Case of Two Evils.

As the election draws close, there has been a drastic increase in violence, loss of lives, and property in Anambra State. From the destruction of the INEC state office in May where three people died, non-sensitive election materials destroyed, seven vehicles, and 50 generating sets burnt, to several reports of killings and attacks on properties of individuals.

Calls from certain groups encouraging people to boycott the elections have left uncertainty in the air. The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, while addressing the press after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Thursday, stated that no possibility is ruled out, citing the security breaches and instances of the breakdown of law and order as references that could require the declaration of a state of emergency in the state. Seeing the enormous influence the group holds in the east, should they call for a boycott, there is a good chance people stay in their homes due to fear of reprisals. The group’s reason for this boycott is oppression and marginalization by the current regime. But is boycotting the way to get what they want?

Preserving Nature’s Sanitation Officers: A SSDO & NCF Partnership

Do you know that vultures and other scavenging animals are the natural cleaning agents that the earth has? Often, when people hear or see vultures, they automatically associate them with words like dirt, ugly, and evil. Yet they play an important role in keeping the ecosystem’s balance.

Through their scavenging activities, they control the amount of bacteria that would have spread to the human population. Hence, keeping the ecosystem clean and directly protecting humans from infectious diseases such as anthrax and rabies. Without vultures, the carcasses will lead to air pollution and microbes will multiply. By feasting on dead animals, they reduce the likelihood of a swarm of flies gathering and help to keep their population in check. Vultures have a highly corrosive stomach that allows them to digest carcasses without being affected as compared to other animals. The enzymes also process these substances in their stomach ensuring that when they release their waste it is bacteria-free.