The private sector-led Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) has donated fully-equipped isolation centres and medical equipment worth millions of Naira to Ondo and Kwara State governments.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the coalition, which comprises leading private sector operators, had earlier donated similar items to the governments of Rivers and Enugu states.
The coalition also commenced the distribution of food palliatives in Lagos last week.
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Mrs Grace Olagunju, Spokesperson of CACOVID, in a statement on Thursday, said the gesture was to support the government to successfully fight the Coronavirus in the country.
Olagunju, while handing over a 100-bed isolation centre and medical items in Kwara, said CACOVID’s efforts were meant to complement Federal Government’s action against the spread and to end the pandemic in the country.
“As you are aware, as a result of the pandemic that is ravaging the world and the country, CACOVID, a coalition of private sector organisations, felt the need to join hands together with various governments and agencies.
“With Kwara being one of the active governments, we found it worthy to make our own contributions such that the state can be able to fight the war and win.
“Of course, our interest is in health and lives of the citizens of every state; we felt as responsible corporate organisations, we should do this to support the state government,” she said.
Dr Femi Oladiji, Chairman Medical Advisory Committee of COVID-19 Technical Committee, Kwara, commended CACOVID for the gesture, stressing that it would help the state government in its efforts to successfully fight the pandemic.
“On behalf of my principal, the Kwara state government is very delighted for this landmark support from CACOVID.
“It will surely go a long way to supporting us in our various efforts to fight the pandemic. They will be very useful for us,” he said.
In Akure, the Ondo state capital, the Coalition donated medical equipment and bedding to Ondo State Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH).
A representative of CACOVID in the state, Mr Akinbode Akinola, in his remark, revealed that the group donated 100 beds, 100 mattresses and other bedding accessories to the IDH.
Akinola said the coalition donated 25 sphygmomanometers, 25 oximeters used to measure the pulse of the patients, and five sets of bed monitors.
He explained that the donations became necessary, considering the rate at which the Coronavirus was spreading and claiming lives.
Akinola said that governments could not handle the issue alone; hence the support by the coalition.
The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Wahab Adegbenro, appreciated the coalition’s gesture and urged corporate organisations and philanthropists to join the government in fighting COVID-19.
Ondo Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Olugbenga Ale, who formally received the donations, thanked the coalition and promised that all the items would be judiciously used.
Akeredolu said that the state would not relent in seeking assistance from corporate organisations and private individuals to fight the dreaded virus.
The governor charged residents of the state to adhere strictly to all precautionary measures being handed down by the government to check the spread of COVID-19.
Akeredolu stressed that maintaining social distancing, staying -at home, hand washing and use of face masks, were measures to check the spread of the virus.
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