Victim Support Fund Donates Elevator Valued At N42 Million To The Federal Ministry Of Health

The Victim Support Fund as part of its COVID-19 interventions and support has donated a complete Elevator and UPS Equipment to the Federal Ministry of Health.

The VSF Taskforce’s on COVID-19 donated the 13 passenger capacity elevator and UPS equipment valued at over N42 million to the Federal Ministry of Health as part of the NGO’s effort to support the ministry’s activities.

While speaking at the Inauguration of the project at the Federal Ministry of Health’s headquarters in Abuja, chairperson of  Taskforce Mrs. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, said the task force, in September 2020, made the first donation of ICT equipment and funds to the ministry to support the ministerial expert advisory committee on the national pandemic action plan.

In her words she said; “State-of-the-art technological equipment, videoconferencing and surveillance facilities, as well as infrastructure to support data collection and the quality of human capacities within the ministry.”

According to her “the total value of the donation to the Ministry of Health was about N150 million.

Toyosi said also said the completion of the implementation of the three phases of the VSF Taskforce on the COVID-19 Emergency Intervention Programme, has been done.

“The intervention involved the distribution of food, medical consumables, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to 19 states across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“As well as the provision of support and donations to other parastatal agencies and the construction of Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in 54 schools in 18 states, across the six geopolitical zones in the country.”

Speaking further, she stated that the VSF Taskforce on COVID-19 was inaugurated by the Chairman of the VSF, retired Lt.-Gen. T Y Danjuma with a mandate to provide palliative measures to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) ”and other vulnerable groups around the country as part of its contribution to national efforts in the fight against COVID-19”.

Responding, the Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, while showering praises to VSF, added that provision of the elevator came at a very critical time, promising that the ministry would make good use of the elevator.

“It is important to mention that the Victims Support Fund (VSF) supported government efforts at different levels, in various aspects, even before COVID-19.

“In particular, during the response to the protracted humanitarian crisis in the northeast, VSF supported the ministry in developing state-specific operational plans, in order to provide targeted health responses to communities affected by the crisis in the northeast.

“In a similar vein, at the onset of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, VSF committed to supporting the health sector in a variety of ways, including supporting the Ministerial Expert Advisory Committee on the Health Sector Response. Health to COVID-19.

“Support to the secretariat in the development of the action plan to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in the health sector and also a new elevator that we are putting into service today.

“I have to say that the experience of staff and visitors in navigating this building and attending meetings, especially on the 6th floor, was hampered by the limited elevator service.

“It is also sometimes even a safety risk when the only working elevator breaks down with passengers.”

He noted that the new elevator would alleviate a lot of inconveniences faced by ministry staff.

The Minister, therefore “implored everyone to adopt a culture of maintenance and to take responsibility for our environment and our equipment.

“This elevator belongs to all of us and the responsibility for its maintenance should not be left to the General Service Department alone.

“We have to do our part to keep it clean and comply with the capacity warnings,” he said.

According to him, this lift indicates that the maximum capacity is 13 people with a total weight limit of 1000 kg, but based on social distancing, it is important to limit the capacity to six people.

“On behalf of the ministry and federal government staff and leadership.”

He also thanked the President of the Victims Fund, retired General TY Danjuma, and the entire VSF team for their continued support.