In line with the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration towards the prevention and further spread of COVID 19 in the country, the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, has donated preventive items to the People Living with Disabilities, at the Karmajiji Disabled Community, in Abuja. These include hand sanitizers, face masks, soaps, bleach and plastic buckets.
The protective items were presented by the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq to the chief of the Karmajiji Disabled Community, Alhaji Suleiman Mohammed Katsina, in Abuja.
Speaking through the Director Rehabilitation, Nkechi Onwukwe, the Minister stressed that coronavirus is real and deadly and to ensure that the people of the community and other persons living with Disabilities have assess to sensitisation and essential items that would help prevent COVID 19 virus that has spread rapidly across the world without a cure.
“It is agreed that the most effective way to contain the disease is to wash hands frequently, practice good hygiene and avoid large gatherings, by staying at home for the prescribed duration as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari in his broadcast to the nation on the disease.
“To urgently intervene and provide support for the vulnerable persons, the Ministry has swung into action to ensure that the PLWDs will receive intervention are care, we will expand our safety net programme to make sure that we raise the number of qualified beneficiaries with special needs who will receive government support” the Minister noted.
She urged them to follow the government guidelines on prevention, stay at home and avoid large crowds.
The Chief of the Karmajiji Disabled Community, Alhaji Suleiman Mohammed Katsina through his Secretary, Mohammed Dantani, expressed appreciation to the Federal government for the concerns towards the vulnerable, the less privileged and the PLWDS in the FCT.
“We are very impressed with the action taken by the Federal government and we will deliver the message to our people, we will make sure that our people use the protective items donated and observe the stay at home directive” he said.
The Chief appealed to the Federal government to support the community with food items stressing that some of the members of the community depend on donations and with the lockdown in Abuja, their members will find it difficult to feed their families.
Rhoda Ishaku Iliya
Deputy Director Information