Muslim groups distribute palliatives to widows, vulnerable in Gombe

The Muslim Coalition Against COVID-19 says it has distributed food items as palliatives to widows and other vulnerable in Gombe state, to cushion their sufferings due to economic effect of COVID-19.

National Chairman of the Federation of Muslim Medical Laboratory Scientists, who is also the coordinator of the palliatives distribution exercise, Abdussalam Yakubu, disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday.

The coalition is an umbrella body of 54 Muslim organisations in the country, which was formed to provide support to the less privileged members of the society to mitigate effect of the COVID-19.

He said their respective organisations decided to unite under one forum, to offer help to people as a number of homes are passing through a lot of hardships because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Therefore, as Muslim groups we felt that it is our responsibility to touch the lives of those who are in need. Our targets are particularly those who were not able to engage in any form of business during the lockdown as experience when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak,” Yakubu said.

He added that they have provided foodstuff to than 150 households, selected from across the 11 local government areas of the state, irrespective of religious differences.

The coordinator further said the beneficiaries are widows and other less privilege living in the communities, “especially those living in rural areas, who are the mostly affected, in order to reduce their sufferings.”

According to him, over N5 million was expended to provide the relief materials, which include rice, maize and beans.

The statement added that the exercise which was done simultaneously in Gombe, Kano, Kwara and Ebonyi states.