As part of efforts to cushion the pangs of the Covid-19 Lockdown on citizens across the country, a pragmatic Non-Governmental Organization in Delta State, the Centre for Education Development and Skill Acquisition Initiative (CEDESA) has collaborated with Elizabeth Positive Women Initiative (EPWI) a UK-based NGO to reach out to the aged, widows and less privileged in a door-to-door distribution of COVID-19 Palliatives in Ukwuani local government area.
The NGOs distributed rice and beans measured in buckets to all the beneficiaries earlier identified by the group from communities within Ukwuani local government.
Also, the organizations had earlier distributed hundreds of EPWI branded facemasks during a sensitization rally to public places (motor/okada parks and tbe Ultra Modern Market) in local government headquarters.
The group told the public to always stay safe and alert by protecting themselves with PPE and maintaining physical/social distancing as well as avoiding crowded places.
Earlier in her address during the distribution of the palliatives, the CEO of CEDESA, Mrs Oluronke Iyabo Ugbe expressed her gratitude to Mrs Bukayomi Tola Animashaun the CEO of EPWI also known as Positive Women Empowerment for what she described as a pleasant surprise for partnering with CEDESA to reach out to the needy indeed in Ukwuani local government; she prayed God to bless her and continue to increase Positive Women Empowerment in their godly course to make life worth living for all.
According to CEDESA, Positive Women Initiative operating from Manchester in the UK have also distributed relief materials to over 2000 beneficiaries in Oyo State during the Lockdown to help ease off the effects of the lockdown on the people.
The CEDESA boss, while sensitizing the beneficiaries, stressed the need for them to embrace and practice personal hygiene at all times as well as adhere to Coronavirus preventive measures which are regular hand washing with soap under running water; the use of alcohol based hand sanitizers; avoiding crowded environment; while maintaining physical/social distancing, amongst others.
Mrs Ugbe also advised the beneficiaries to obey all the preventive measures outlined by the state government while the partial Lockdown lasts even as she urged them to continue to pray for Delta State, Nigeria and the world at large. According to her, “I want to advise everyone here present to get closer to God like never before and pray for our state, the nation and the world at large for God to take away this COVID-19 Pandemic”.
Meanwhile, in their separate responses, the beneficiaries appreciated CEDESA and EPWI for remembering them and coming to their aid in these difficult times. They prayed God to bless and continue to increase the members of the NGOs even as they called on well-meaning Nigerians and the government to also remember them too.