The Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has donated a total of 435 hospitals and clinics to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
The CBCN announced the donation during a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force PTF on (COVID-19), Mr Boss Mustapha, in his office on Wednesday.
Receiving members of the Conference in his office, Mr Mustapha expressed appreciation to the Bishops’ Conference for making their medical facilities and clinics at the disposal of the Task Force.
According to a statement by Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Mr. Willie Bassey, Mustapha thanked the Conference for the donation.
He described the gesture as not only timely but necessary as it would assist medical practitioners in their efforts to bring the pandemic to a standstill in the country.
The SGF particularly commended the Conference for the donation in view of the spread of the health facilities which are found in several locations across the country and would provide the required assistance to various state governments to leverage on.
He said: ‘‘We will continue to work with all faith-based organisations, civil society groups and all men of goodwill interested in helping out at this time of need’’.
The SGF called on other faith-based groups to speak up and lend a strong voice to the decisions of government particularly, on restriction of movement so as to halt the spread of the pandemic.
The Chairman of PTF said that coronavirus does not respect religion, tribe, race or status and called for all hands to be on deck so as to curtail the spread of the pandemic in the country.
Speaking on behalf of the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, the Archbishop of Abuja Arch Diocese, Arch Bishop Ignatius Kaigama, informed the SGF that the conference was with the PTF in prayers.