COVID-19: Anambra community shares palliatives to NYSC members, others
By Chukwudum
No fewer than 50 members of the National Youth Service Corps serving in various parts of Enugwu-Ukwu community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra state have received some food items and cash as palliative to cushion the effect of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown. The items included bags of rice, tubers of yam, instant noodles and unspecified sum of money.
Addressing the corps members in his palace shortly before the distribution of the palliatives, the traditional ruler of Enugwu-Ukwu community, Igwe Ralph Obemneme Ekpeh noted that although it was not the responsibility of the community feed the corps members but to provide security to them, the community deemed it necessary to distribute the palliatives in response to the request of the corps members that they were hungry.
Flanked by the President-General of Enugwu-Ukwu Community Development Union, ECDU, Bommy Ozonkwuaku and another prominent member of the royal cabinet, Sir Isaiah Nwafor, Igwe Ekpeh advised the corps members to observed the rules stipulated by the World Health organization, WHO in ensuring that the pandemic did not spread.
The monarch condemned the lackadaisical attitude of the northern elders over the deadly pandemic,adding that southern governors should close all the routes leading to the north and ensure that there was no influx of people from the north to the south or vise versa, to avoid the spread of the virus which he he noted has overwhelmed the world powers with their high technology.
Distributing the items and cash, Comrade Ozonkwuaku told the corps members the community started with adequate sensitization programme at the outbreak of the virus and then graduated to the distribution of palliatives to the vulnerable ones in the community, courtesy of some illustrious sons and daughters of the community.
He commended the state government for its efforts so far in curtailing the spread of the virus and noted that the lock should be either relaxed or tightened based on the situation on ground, after the expiration of the two-week deadline in the state, adding that apart from the corps members, some well to do members of the community have been distributing palliatives to their next door neighbors.
Responding on behalf of the corps members, their spokesman, Ekwe Peter Nweze commended the monarch and town union leaders for their magnanimity and prayed God to give them long life and prosperity to carry on with their good works, till the end of the COVID-19 episode.
