A group under the auspices of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) has donated relief materials to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, to treat and rehabilitate wounded soldiers.
President of the Association, Mrs Vickie Irabor, said the gesture was to show their gratitude and support the courageous soldiers while donating the materials. They have willingly put their lives on the line for the country.
According to her, “As wives and mothers of these wounded soldiers, we have come on this special day that Nigeria marks her independence to let you know that injuries sustained in combat speak to the Nation of your sacrifice.
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“But beyond that, we should remind you of millions of Nigerians that continue to move freely in safety because of your sacrifice.
“This has put you on the role of heroes of our great Nation.
“We celebrate you, we thank you and also implore you not to allow these scars to limit you; you are not alone as we will continue to stand by you. There is a bright future ahead of you, so keep hope alive.”, She noted.
The items included 30 wheelchairs that can function electronically and manually and a 4-in-1 integrated D3 defibrillator /monitor for immediate resuscitation of patients with cardiac arrest.
Others were Interlocking nail set for fixing fractured bones and consumables for rehabilitation such as gloves, cotton wool and spirit.
Also, the occasion witnessed the flag off Project Zero Hunger at the hospital by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.
(NCFRMI).
The Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI, Mrs Imaan Ibrahim-Sulaiman, said the Zero Hunger initiative had been successfully launched in four different locations in Abuja and Nassarawa State.
She noted sadly that over Three- Million Nigerians have been displaced by insecurity, man-made and natural disasters within one year.
“There are over 73 000 registered refugees residing in Nigeria from over 23 countries and about 500,000 Nigerian refugees awaiting repatriation from Cameroon, Niger, Chad, Libya, Mali and other countries.”
She explained that the Zero Hunger initiative was borne out of the necessity to streamline and enhance the distribution and availability of food and non-food items to address the immediate nutritional needs of all persons of concern using Food Care Packs.
She added that the project was designed to promote an integrated approach and enable well-meaning persons to support national effort in addressing the nutritional needs of displaced persons, including
“Officers and men who, in the line of duty have been inflicted with wounds.
“This project also creates a platform for different stakeholders to collaborate and support the Commission in mobilizing additional resources to positively make an impact on lives of the vulnerable while eliminating waste, compromise and duplication of efforts that was evident in the previous distribution of food and non-food items to persons of concern.
Mrs Ibrahim-Suleiman pledged the Commission, in partnership with DEPOWA, will continue to render necessary support to wounded soldiers and their families across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
In his remark, the Acting Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Col Ndidi Onuchukwu, appreciated DEPOWA for the donation and assured that it would be appropriately utilized to treat soldiers wounded in action.
