As parts of efforts to combat the ravaging Corona Virus pandemic and its attendant hunger, the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has kicked off the distribution of Medical equipment and food palliative to the 25 Local Government Areas of Delta State.
Flagging off the distribution at Iwhrekeka Community, Ughelli South Council Area, the Acting Managing Director of NDDC, Professor Daniel Pondei, said that the COVID-19 pandemic created health emergency and pangs of hunger the world over, particularly in the Niger Delta region.
Professor Pondei, who was represented by the Delta State Director of the Commission, Mr Gochua Okejoto, said that with the rising cases of the pandemic in Nigeria, there was a need for all hands to be on deck to fight the virus with all available resources.
The NDDC Acting Managing Director further disclosed that the Commission in response to the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, committed funds to aid the fight across the region under its Emergency Support for Health and Social Programme.
He thanked the Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for his commitment to ensuring that the medical supplies and food items got to the indigent and vulnerable persons in the State.
The NDDC boss said that mechanism had been put in place to ensure that the food palliative got to the right people across the state.
Professor Pondei noted that the medical supplies included special diagnostic and critical care equipment such as ventilators, adding that the equipment would be distributed to the Central Hospital, Warri, Central Hospital, Ughelli and the Teaching Hospital, Oghara.
He advised the people of Delta State to listen and obey the precautionary measures given by governments towards conquering the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that Corona Virus was real.
The Delta State Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Mofe Pirah, represented by Mr Emmanuel Amiwero, thanked NDDC for complementing the efforts of the state government at mitigating the spread and the negative impact of the Corona Virus pandemic on Deltans.
Also, the Chairman of the NDDC COVID-19 Distribution Committee for Delta State, Sir Bishop Oruefe thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC for meeting the needs of the grassroots in the region.
A youth leader from the Ijaw nation, Barrister Pele Dimebide also thanked President Buhari and the IMC of the NDDC for its intervention at this critical time.
