Coronavirus Pandemic
THE Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation has commenced the distribution of 30,000 face masks across the 19 northern states and FCT to complement government efforts to curtailed the spread of COVID-19.
The Managing Director of the Foundation, Abubakar Umar, while presenting the items to the Kaduna State government on Friday in Kaduna, said the gesture was in continuation of its advocacy on the need to support government in sensitising the general public on the need to use face masks.
According to him, the distribution of face masks is the second phase of the foundation’s gesture, while the first phase was an advocacy and enlightenment campaigns across media organisations on the pandemic.
He said that that the third phase was expected to commence in due course, adding that all hands must be on deck to support the government in its effort to stem the deadly virus.
“The foundation felt it is important to complement government efforts by distributing the face masks. Whatever we are doing here, we are equally doing it in other northern states including the FCT.
“We are donating 30,000 pieces to be shared 1,500 in each state of the North and FCT,’’ he said.
Umar, however, called on religious, traditional, political and community leaders to join hands with the government in disseminating credible information about the pandemic.
He appealed to the stakeholders to create awareness on the gravity of the COVID -19 pandemic.
He called on Nigerians to continue to adopt and practice all the precautionary measures as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the various state governments in the country.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the Kaduna State Government, Mohammed Bashir, the Permanent Secretary, General Service Office of the SSG commended the foundation for the gesture.
He said that the donations would help the state government’s enforcement effort on the compulsory use of face mask across the state.
According to him, the government has made it a law for everyone to use facemask to protect themselves from COVID-19.
He said that the message would be delivered according to the governor and while letter of appreciation would be presented in due course.
NAN
– May 15, 2020 @ 14:15 GMT /
Tags: 000 face masks to 19 northern states FCT Foundation distributes 30
