By Udo Akam-Alo, ABAKALIKI
The Victim Support Fund (VSF) Task Force on Covid-19 has donated items worth N120 million to Ebonyi state government. VSF is under the Gen. TY. Danjuma Foundation.
The Chairperson of the Task Force on COVID-19, Mrs Toyosi Akerele Ogunsiji noted that the donation is in line with the foundation’s gesture to support Ebonyi state in the fight against COVID-19.
She also stated that 2,060 households are expected to benefit from the support materials, saying that Ebonyi has got the highest number of Coronavirus cases presently in the entire Southeast.
Mrs. Ogunsiji said Victims Support Fund has largely focused on the victims of insurgency but following the national challenge and the dangers government and people are facing, management of the team saw the need to extend a sort of intervention beyond the Northeast and other environs in the nation.
According to her, “In the Southeast, Ebonyi state has the highest number of Coronavirus cases at the moment and even though that the state government has been making concerted effort to combat the scourge of the Coronavirus, we think it important to ensure that our work on the impact of this emergency intervention of the COVID-19 global pandemic touches the length and breadth of Nigeria.
“We think that for the fact that Ebonyi has high degree of the case, we decided to come and see the effort the state is making in supporting the citizens in the middle of this pandemic. We were made to understand that the livelihood of the citizens is tampered with in the middle of the pandemic, companies are unable to function in full capacity, even though government is operating off and on, people have lost their jobs.
“And so, food is the major component, it’s a major necessity for human survival which is what we have for you today.
“We have Rice, Beans, Garri all in 10kg each, groundnut oil and salt. In addition to that, we are donating, 30 bags of hand sanitizers, 50,000 face masks, 50 safety materials safe for your healthcare workers given that we understand that the healthcare workers are always on the frontline at this moment and we already know the challenges that Nigerians suffer in terms of healthcare infrastructural management and the shortage of Doctors.”
Receiving the items at the International Conference Centre, ICC, Abakaliki, on behalf of Governor David Umahi, the Deputy Governor, Barr. Eric Kelechi Igwe Expressed satisfaction over the gesture from VSF to the State, describing such as an act of passion and love and as well assured the foundation of judicious distribution of the items to the households in the state
“Only people who have passion, only people who are committed and have the love of one another, will take the risk of transversing the nooks and crannies of this country going to places you are not too sure of and in the menace of this COVID-19 wanting to interact with them.
“So, we are grateful that you have found us eminently qualified to benefit from your philanthropy.
“We assure you of equitable distribution of the materials you brought to households who will benefit,” he assured.
