by By Fr. Zachariah Samjumi – Cathilic Secretariat, Abuja
The Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria CBCN, has granted the Presidential Task Force Committee to combat the spread of the dreaded Corona virus.
This was disclosed to the Chairman of the committee, Boss Mustapha who is also Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, in his office on April 8, 2020.
Leading the CBCN delegation, the Most Rev. Dr. Ignatius Kaigama, the Archbishop of Abuja, acknowledged the excellent efforts of the government in curtailing covid-19.
Archbishop Kaigama then read the massage of the CBCN, Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Obiro Akuebeze, Archbishop of Benin, where CBCN in solidary with the good people of Nigeria and the government, granted th Presidential Task Force Committee full access to 435 catholic hospitals and clinics in Nigeria.
CBCN further presented it National Health Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Okechukwu should the comittee needs his services and also as the liason officer to all catholic facilities in the country. Copies of the booklet cataloging the addresses of the health facilities were submitted to the SGF.
The Archbishop further informed that the Catholic Church has the structures, track record, and the reach in terms of public mobilization and the expression of solidarity with those under the burden occasioned by covid-19.
The SGF thanked the CBCN for the show of solidarity, and importantly for making available over 400 health facilities to contribute to the efforts being put in place to curtail the spread of the covid-19 pandemic. He urged the church help in disseminating the massage personal hygiene and compliance with government directives, and assured that his committee would discuss the meanigful solidarity expressed by the CBCN and incorporate the offer in its programmes.
