The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has launched a WhatsApp service to educate more Nigerians on how to curtail the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
Announcing the development on a tweet on Sunday, the health agency revealed the health platform will allow for a two-way engagement on the platform to facilitate good conversation between the agencies and the Nigerian populace.
According to the agency, real-time engagement would be deployed to Nigerians and they would engage back directly by the agency centre.
It added that subscribers to the service would be informed of the latest development on the COVID-19 real-time monitoring and updates, receive information on how testing can be carried out and also an urgent message from the NCDC.
Meanwhile, the agency disclosed for interested Nigerians who wish to engage in the conversation should add this dedicated WhatApp number; 07087110839 to their phone contact list and send Hi; then boom! They are set for the conversation.
On the drop-down menu, there are options with numbers from 1-11 from which the user can select, for example, selecting option-5 (how to get tested) would display the following messages;
“If you have a recent travel history to any country outside Nigeria or you have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, you must self-isolate for 14days.
If you start to feel unwell with the known COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing) during self-isolation, call your state hotline or the NCDC toll-free line immediately on 0800 9700 0010.
Please follow this advice whether you have symptoms or not.”
The agency can also be added directly on Whatsapp via bit.ly/3bqNpPr
