COVID-19: Rotary District 9125 distributes palliatives to FCT communities

Rotary District 9125 on Monday began distribution of palliatives to vulnerable households in some FCT communities to cushion effect of the lockdown to contain spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country.

Supreme learnt that the communties include ; Gwagwa, Karimo, and Tarsha among others.

The distribution was done at the LEA Nursery/Primary School, Life Camp, Abuja for security reasons.

The beneficiaries were transported from their communities in two trucks to the venue.

The District Governor, Dr Victor Onukwugha said the gesture was to support the Federal Government’s effort in containing spread of the virus.

According to him, the government cannot do it alone as all hands have to be on deck to ensure the disease does not spread further than it has.

Onukwugha said that the 138 clubs which make up the district were equally distributing palliatives in their localities to assist the needy.

He said that the district was targeting more than 4,000 beneficiaries in communities in the territory within the week.

The district governor also said that plans were ongoing to provide PPE for health workers, adding that the district had also distributed cartons of hand sanitisers and masks to many communities in the territory.

He however, expressed worry that the essence of the lockdown was not being achieved as the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in the country was more than 1,000.

Onukwugha urged the Federal Government to make the wearing of masks, hand washing and use of sanitisers compulsory to contain spread of the virus.

He appealed to Nigerians to adhere to the Federal lockdown order, observe social distancing at all times, wash their hands and ensure they use sanitisers as COVID-19 is real.

Mrs Ramat Abdullahi, the Secretary Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), who supervised the distribution of the palliatives, said the beneficiaries were carefully selected with the help of their traditional rulers and village heads.

According to her, the palliatives will go a long way in providing succour for many families as the packages are rich.

Abdullahi said school was chosen for the distribution in order to observe social distancing.

She commended Rotary District for the gesture, adding that the district has been doing a lot of projects in the territory as it had constructed schools, boreholes, and renovated hospitals among others.

The AMAC secretary urged other organisations as well as well to do individuals in the society to emulate Rotary.

Some of the beneficiaries said it had not been easy, and expressed gratitude to Rotary.

“It has not been easy to feed my family since the lockdown, but with this package I received today, we will have enough to last us three days,” Adamu Mohammed, a resident of Gwagwa said.