From Maurice Okafor,Enugu
Some widows in Enugu state at the weekend received food items and pharmaceuticals from an Enugu-based Non- governmental Organisation (NGO) known as ‘Bina Foundation based at Thinkers Corner axis of Enugu metropolis.
About 70 disabled persons selected from the 17 local government areas of Enugu state were accorded the gesture by the management of the organisation as initiated by its Founder/Executive Director, Lady Ifeoma Atuegwu.
The foundation which in the past decade has been offering free skill acquisition to people with special needs and thereafter supporting them with logistics to open businesses of their own, said the gesture was part of their own contribution to help humanity, most especially the less-privileged to avert hunger consequent upon the COVID-19 pandemic.
The food items distributed to the disabled include bags of rice, cartons of noodles, Vitamin C tablets, customized nose masks and undisclosed cash gifts.
Each of the beneficiaries was earlier treated to free medical checks by a team of Volunteer doctors and other health personnel partnering with the NGO.
In her address read by Hon Amobi Chikwendu,a manager in the Foundation, Lady Ifeoma Atuegwu, emphasized the commitment of the organisation to impacting on the lives of the less-privileged in the society, the much they can, at challenging moments like this.
The address read in parts, “In line with the universal principle of “Leave No One Behind Bina Foundation has commenced massive distribution of food items, Vitamin C, Cash and customized Nose marks to Persons with Disabilities in Enugu State.”
“This is done in response to this unprecedented global crisis and Enugu State lockdown directive. Firstly, we organized COVID-19 awareness and demonstration campaign to sensitize Persons with Disabilities on key preventive majors to avoid contracting the deadly virus. We also suspended on-going 2020 Skills Acquisition training for Persons with Disabilities in line with the social distancing approach”.
“As a charitable organization, our first priority is implementing the programs that make life better for Persons with Disabilities around Nigeria and by observing every necessary guideline such as temperature check and hand washing at the entry point to the Foundation.”
The founder/proprietor, Bina Foundation, Lady Ifeoma Atuegwu, expressed gratitude to her husband, Sir Chris Atuegwu, the Chief Executive/Managing Director, Michelle Laboratories Ltd, an indigenous drug manufacturing firm, for his financial support to various activities of the organization.
In compliance to safety rules to contain COVID-19 pandemic, over 70 disabled persons from 17 local government areas of Enugu state were given the palliatives on, while the widows were invited on Thursday, May 14,for the same purpose. Each of the benefactors underwent free medical tests and received free drugs before going home with his or her own palliative.
The management had extended similar gesture to every of its trainee before their skill acquisition training section was halted based on the stay at home order of the state government which effected all institutions of learning, both private and public in Enugu state.
