North East Development Commission (NEDC), on Wednesday donated essential disinfectant products worth millions of Naira to various Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Maiduguri to combat the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVIDID-19).
Mr Mohammed Alkali, NEDC Managing Director, said this during a one-day COVID-19 sensitisation campaign at Bakkassi, Stadium and Muna IDPs camps in Maiduguri.
Alkali said that the items which included soap, liquid and other products, were to meet the cleaning and disinfection requirements in the IDPs camps.
He said that the commission has an important functional role to play to aid the many government efforts toward combating COVID-19 and mitigating disaster to protect the citizens.
He said that the commission was at the camps to sensitise the IDPs on proactive mechanism to promote healthy environment and safety hygiene habits.
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“As you are aware, there is Coronavirus pandemic all over the world which calls for all hands to be on deck to nip the menace in the bud.
”Though the outbreak is not yet in the state or in the camps, but prevention is better than cure.
“We are here to sensitise the IDPs and to let them know that the disease is real and what they need to do to protect themselves in their environment.
“We are also here to let them know that there is a lot of efforts being put in place by the Federal government.
”We have the President Task Force for the Prevention of COVID-19 and they are doing a lot of things to ensure that this pandemic is contained in the country.
“We also have the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs working tirelessly to see that it contained this pandemic as well as provide humanitarian and durable solutions to Nigerians,” he said.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Hajiya Yabawa Kolo, commended the commission for the support, at this critical time of global emergency.
Kolo said that the three camps houses about 107,000 IDPs displaced from Marte, Gwoza, Monguno, Guzamala, Nganzai, Baga, Kukawa, Mafa and Dikwa.
She said that the gesture would promote safe hygienic practices among the displaced community with a view to ensure zero transmission in the state.
The SEMA Chairperson said that the state government had adopted proactive modalities to strengthen protection in the camps by banning all visitation and discouraging all forms of social gathering.
She assured the commission of the judicious distribution of the items donated to the IDPs.
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