By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

A retired Anglican Bishop, Rt. Rev. Raphael Okafor, has attributed Nigerians’ reluctance to wearing facemasks to ignorance and illiteracy.

He called for more sensitisation and enlightenment of the people stressing that Covid-19 is real and kills.

Okafor, who made the statement when he led a team of clerics under the Igbo Christian Restoration Assembly (ICRA) to the Government House, Awka, Anambra State, donated six cartons of hand sanitizers towards supporting the state government on its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

He frowned at people that sell face masks without first protecting themselves with any.

While describing it as ridiculous, he urged facemask dealers to show example to others by putting on face masks before selling the products to their prospective buyers.

Okafor said: “Members should not ridicule or joke with wearing of facemasks. Sometimes it's a matter of illiteracy. But the truth is that COVID-19 is real and it kills. We just heard that Anambra has three death cases. It’s very sad. Those in isolation centres are increasing.

“Even those that work in pharmaceutical shops are not wearing facemasks. The people who are supposed to show example are not showing. As much as possible, we the church leaders will keep on educating our members.

“Don’t tell them that it’s a law you must put on face mask because there’s a negative reaction when it’s presented as a law.

“These laws are put in place to prevent, which is better than cure. There are some people that can never take it serious if there's no law. Life is very important and should not be taken lightly.”

Okafor enjoined government at all levels to take the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for medical personnel seriously to ensure they carried out their duties unhindered.

The cleric decried a situation where health workers treat COVID-19 patients without protective gears, saying that it is suicidal.

“The government must do more. No one sees death and voluntarily wants to go and die. It's a commitment for the doctors to attend to the patients. But when you know that the disease is very infectious, then it’s mandatory they have the PPE.

“But when it’s not provided, you don’t expect them to commit suicide, because many doctors have died in that process. But if these equipment are provided and you're still afraid, then you’re failing as a medical personnel,” he added.

In his response, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, thanked the team for the gesture while giving the assurance that the donation would go a long way to ensuring the frontliners are well protected.