The Kaduna State Government has expressed its gratitude to donors (individuals, firms and agencies) that have donated to its Covid-19 fund, as the state continues to battle to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The Kaduna state government in a statement released on Tuesday 12th May 2020, by Muyiwa Adekeye who is the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media & Communication, said many of the donors have kindly responded to the government’s stated preference for donations in kind. Some have also made their donations in cash and in-kind.
Cash donations of N641m have been credited to the Covid-19 account. According to the statement, Donors such as BUA, UBA, Bank of Industry, Nigerian Breweries and others have made cash donations.
Also, other donors such as Dangote Foundation, Flour Mills, Olam and Nestle have provided support in kind. Leadway Assurance also kindly offered an insurance package for health workers which KDSG has augmented to increase the sums assured. The CACOVID alliance is also donating unprecedented supplies of food.
“The state government is delighted by the many pledges it has received for medical equipment to strengthen the resilience of its health sector to respond to this and future public health emergencies,” the statement added.
While speaking on the donors, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai said that Kaduna State welcomes the positive disposition of its partners. “The Kaduna State Government has received with immense gratitude the support provided by our private sector partners and the development agencies.
We are delighted by the pledges of medical equipment to support health sector resilience. As we invest in the construction of more treatment facilities and other initiatives in the health sector, we are confident of the support of our private sector and development partners.
“We thank CACOVID, the private sector alliance, for the unprecedented deliveries of food to our warehouses to support low-income, poor and vulnerable persons. Other firms have made direct donations of cash, food items, and other materials. We do not take take this support for granted,” he said.
Malam El-Rufai also acknowledged the donations by political appointees and all public servants in Kaduna State to the fund. He disclosed that the Kaduna State National Assembly Caucus and the honourable members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly also made contributions to the Covid-19 to the fund. He welcomed this as a concrete demonstration of concern for others, especially citizens deprived of any guaranteed income by the impact of the ongoing public health emergency.
The governor said he was particularly touched by the gesture of ordinary citizens who have donated sums like N10, N100 and N1000, amounts that demonstrate that the spirit of charity is strong even in those who do not have much.