Strengthening community capacity for improved healthy living during covid-19 pandemic in Rivers State, Nigeria

This paper investigated ways of strengthening community capacity for healthy living during COVID-19 pandemic in Rivers State. The divine ability theory and value free approach were adopted in the study. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and interviews were the major instrument for data collection. The findings of the study revealed the factors responsible for poor attitudes to healthy living especially during the pandemic to include political gimmick by government, closure of businesses, price escalations, restriction of movement and instability among others. The study further revealed that ways of strengthening community capacity for improved healthy living include campaigns, sensitization and seminar among others. The study concluded that there is need to step up efforts towards addressing the challenges of strengthening community capacity for improved healthy living by providing funds and the required expertise. Based on these findings, it was recommended among others that adequate attention should be given to capacity building programmes for healthy living style and disease control among people and improvement of the health system through the provision of modern health infrastructures should top the priority of government policies.