Muslim Coalition Against Covid-19 launches ambitious relief effort that includes food and 700 health workers

April 22nd, 2020 African News, Headline, Health, News, Nigerian comments

NIGERIA’S Muslim Coalition Against Covid-19 has launched a radical relief operation aimed at getting essential food items to the needy and mobilising 700 health workers into the field to treat the sick.

Under the first phase, relief material will be distributed in the Federal Capital Territory, along with Rivers, Osun, Oyo and Lagos states. Medical facilities will also be sent to the states according to Dr Salisu Ismail, the chairman of the coalition’s medical committee, who revealed that the health taskforce will be made up of 120 doctors, 100 pharmacists, 100 laboratory scientists, 80 health record officers, 80 environmental health workers, 70 social workers, 50 biomedical engineers and 50 support staff.

Professor AbdulRazaq Kilani, the chairman of the coalition’s logistics committee, said thousands of families shall be supported with relief packages. He added that benefiting families will go home with a 6.5kg bag of rice, a 10kg bag of beans, a 5kg bag of gari, 250g of sugar and 250g of salt.

Already, efforts are ongoing to ensure that the distribution is hitch-free as the coalition is in contact with relevant government organs to facilitate movement of its workers in Lagos. Alhaji Al-Hassan Muhammad, the chairman of the government liaison said they have already asked the Federal Capital Territory authorities for passes for their volunteers and have been asked to supply their names.

Dr Ismail said: “We are deploying this nationwide to compliment government efforts. In addition to this, the coalition is making arrangements to donate PPE, test kits and ventilators to state and federal governments.”

Already, the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs has endorsed the N500m relief appeal fund to bankroll the initiative. This appeal fund was launched last week and participating organisations numbering 48 have pooled about N5m into it with members of the public also contributing.

A 60-man implementation team grouped into eight committees had been named by the coalition leadership with membership drawn from the corporate sector, public service, industry and the academic to manage the entire process. Publicity committee chairman Alhaji Moshood Abiola, expressed gratitude to Lagos and Osun States governments and FCT administration for acceding swiftly to their requests and assured the public that the group will extend its kind gesture to all Nigerians Muslims and non-Muslims

Organisations in the coalition include