COVID-19: NGO boosts safety of health workers’ with N10M worth PPE

By Stanley Onyekwere

In a bid to boost safety of health workers especially in the wake of the coronavirus otherwise known as COVID-19 pandemic, an Abuja-based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Maks-up Nigerian Medics, has donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), worth about N10 million to some public hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The multimillion Naira PPE were doled out to Wuse District Hospital, Maitama Hospital, Nyanya General Hospital, Gwarinpa District Hospital and Kubwa General Hospital respectively.
Co-founder of the organisation, Dr Iham Ahmed Umar, who presented the items at the Wuse District Hospital, on Wednesday, explained that the group decided to donate the items because it had observed that health workers in the hospitals lack PPE to take care of patients.
Umar added that the money for the equipment was realized through fund raising organised by the NGO so as to assist health workers and reduce the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
“We have observed what our health workers are going through in taking care of patients. The lack a lot of PPEs and they end up going to work not fully protected.
“So we organised a fund-raising to see how we can assist. We are very happy that we were able to get about N10 million to buy the equipment, which is close to our initial target of about N12 million”, he stressed.
The NGO Co-founder also advised residents of the Territory to always maintain social distancing, washing their hands regularly, wearing of facemask and other proper high hygiene.
He reiterated that COVID-19 is still an ongoing battle, because people are still getting infected and people are still dying from the pandemic.
Receiving the items, acting secretary for FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS), Dr Mohammed Kawu, represented by the deputy director of health planning, department of planning, research and statistics, Pharm Samson Eriba, thanked the organisation for supporting the FCT administration in the fight against COVID-19.
Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Wuse District Hospital, Dr. Sa’ad Idris, said the hospital management was very excited by the gesture, adding that this is the time the hospital needs the items in the fight against COVID-19.