COVID-19: Monarch donates N3.5m to Anambra

Igwe Alex Onyido, the traditional ruler of Ogidi Town in Idemili North Council Area of Anambra state has donated drugs worth N2.5 million and N1 million cash to the state in support of the efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Onyido, who is the chairman and chief executive officer of Alben Healthcare Products, said the donation was in response to the government’s call on indigenes to complement its efforts.

He said at the moment, there was no known cure for COVID-19 and that all that could be done at the moment was treatment of the symptoms which was why he donated drugs that could boost the immune system against the symptoms.

The items donated include 10 cartons of chloroquine tablets, five cartons of 250ml hand sanitisers, 10 cartons of 100ml hand sanitisers, five cartons of paracetamol syrup and 10 cartons of paracetamol tablets.

Others are five cartons of Alkum cough syrup for dry cough and 10 cartons of Albenux cough syrup.

Onyido said that apart from helping with material donations, he was also supporting the government to ensure that there was 100 per cent compliance to the ban on all social gatherings in his town, including burials and marriages.

He expressed confidence in the ability of Nigerian doctors to fight the coronavirus pandemic and called for infrastructure support for them.

“Our government made a clarion call that Anambra people should donate to support this cause, so as a stakeholder, a monarch and a pharmaceutical giant, I decided to contribute money and drugs.

“These drugs treat symptoms of foronavirus like fever and cough, they help to boost human immunity against these symptoms.

“The drugs here are worth N2.5 million with an additional N1 million cash to support the fight. I have also procured about 500 bags of rice to complement what the government is doing for the people in my community.

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“In my community, we are also supporting the government to ensure physical distancing and ban on social gatherings are observed 100 per cent.

“I believe in the capacity of Nigerian doctors to treat Nigerians because they are the best anywhere in the world,” he said.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Anambra staye government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), thanked the monarch and his company for the kind gesture.

Chukwulobelu said though donations had been coming in the past, but this was the first time that an individual or group gave cash and items.

He said they would go a long way to helping Anambra succeed in the goal of having COVID-19 free status, adding that they would be deployed in the best interest and safety of residents of the state.

The SSG received the donation in company of Dr. Vincent Okpala, the state commissioner for Health and other officials.