Bayelsa State Expresses Readiness To Partner Dangote On Heath Care Delivery

 

The Bayelsa State Government has expressed its readiness to partner the Aliko Dangote Foundation on quality healthcare delivery services and other critical sectors to improve the overall wellbeing of the people of the state.

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri made this known on Wednesday while flagging off the National Food Intervention Programme being organized by the Aliko Dangote Foundation in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Acknowledging the group's effort in funding critical healthcare projects in the country, he said his administration was desirous of establishing and sustaining effective partnership with the Dangote Foundation 

Represented by his Deputy,  Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo,   he commended the foundation for donating 10,000 bags of 10kg rice for distribution in the state to alleviate the economic hardship among Bayelsans, especially the less privileged.

Mr Doubara Atasi Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor in a statement stated that, the prosperity administration had been supporting 420 persons with N200,000 each every month to enable them create sustainable livelihoods and promote self reliance through business activities across the eight local government areas of the state.

The statement  reads: "It is quite encouraging that someone had to do this on his own volition; not being nudged or compelled. It is the milk of human kindness in Alhaji Aliko Dangote that is actually manifesting. 

"We also believe that this gesture should not end in food alone. The Bayelsa State Government is open and ready to embrace the Aliko Dangote Foundation in the area of healthcare delivery.

"I say so because I am aware that you also have something in the area of healthcare delivery. We are looking forward to having an effective partnership with your Foundation in health and other sectors because you have been supporting the national health scheme."

In his welcome remarks, the  Commissioner for Agriculture and National Resources, Prof. Beke Toboukiye Sese, said the state government was delighted at the philanthropic gesture from the Aliko Dangote Foundation.

He  assured the foundation that the 7000 bags of rice received so far would be judiciously distributed to the beneficiaries, especially the needy in the state. 

Speaking on behalf of the foundation, the head of operations, Mr. Ejiro Victor Edero, said the purpose of the gesture from the chairman of the Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, was to alleviate hardship being faced by families across the state.

Mr. Ejiro said the foundation's  food intervention programme was a nationwide project, with over one million bags of rice being distributed across the 36 states in the country.