The Guardian (Nigeria)

Why we provided boreholes, others in 54 schools, by VSF

- From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu

V ICTIMS

Support Programme ( VSF) has explained that it decided to provide boreholes, hand washing machines and sanitisers in 54 secondar y schools across the the country to support the fight against the Corona virus Disease ( COVID- 19).

VSF, which was set up by the Federal Government to rehabilita­te, settle and empower victims of terrorism in the North East, but had its scope widened in 2020 to accommodat­e other parts of the country following the ra vaging COVID- 19, stated that the idea was also to improve hygiene in secondar y schools.

Speaking in Enugu State, during the commission­ing of solar- powered boreholes, hand wash stations and other COVID- 19 facilities, the Chairperso­n of VSF Taskforce on COVID- 19, Mrs. T oyosi Akerele- Ogunsiji, stated that three South East states of Abia, Enugu and Anambra benefitted.

She stated that in Enugu, the organisati­on spent N55 million to provide solarpower­ed boreholes, hand wash stations, reusable facemasks, hand sanitisers, liquid hand wash and bleach to three secondary schools.

They include Girls

Secondary School, Ngwo; Boys Secondary School Agbani; and Community Secondary School, Ugbene Ajima in Uzo- Uwani.

“In this third phase of support, we provided items that the communitie­s need. We meet with the stakeholde­rs in every state and community to ensure the sustainabi­lity of what we will build in their area. We agreed that the washing facilities are what the community needs. We are here in Enugu to commission and hand over solar- powered borehole facilities of 4,000litres, four automatic foot pedal hand washing machine, hand sanitisers, disinfecta­nt, face masks and many others in three schools.

“We chose Enugu because of the way they managed the previous palliative­s provided for them in the first phase. They shared the palliative­s given to them accordingl­y. We have been going round the country commission­ing the water facilities,” she explained.

Akerele- Ogunsiji said that VSF supported Nigerians across the country with food, medical items and other palliative­s in the second phase of the programme, and urged the communitie­s to make good use of the facilities to reduce the spread of the pandemic.

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