Sallah: Heal for Africa Initiative feeds 200 children, donates foodstuffs in Kogi

_{Heal For Africa Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, on Wednesday in Lokoja gave free food to more than 200 children in commemoration of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.}

NAN reported that the event reports that the organisation also donated foodstuffs to 30 women living in Madabo community of Lokoja.

Dr Kelechi Okoro, the Founder of the NGO, told newsmen after the programme that the gesture was to celebrate the Sallah festival with the less- privileged.

According to her, the group is committed to empowering communities in Africa in the areas of health, education, advocacy and livelihood, among others. “Today, we are here to celebrate sallah with people in the slum who feel they do not have anybody, and this is our third episode in the state.

ALSO READ: Nigerians eat expired rice meant for animals ― Lai Mohammed

“First episode was at Paparanda Square last Christmas, the second was on Valentine Day in Adankolo community, and today we are in the slum areas in Madabo, Old market area of Lokoja.

“The residents are so happy, saying they have never experienced this kind of love in their area before. “Over 200 children were fed, 30 women given foodstuffs, even the men were not left out. There was enough items for everybody, “We thank all our partners and volunteers for collaborating with us to bring smiles to the faces on these indigent children and women living in the slum,” she said.

Okoro said that the next programme for Heal for Africa was the “Pay Attention To Her (PATH) Project, which was launched in May, aimed at empowering schoolgirls on personal and menstrual hygiene.

“We are targetting 10 schools in September. We shall train schoolgirls on personal and menstrual hygiene, and give out sanitary pads, hygiene products, stationary and also empower the girls,” she said. The leader of the community, Mr Hassan Yusuf, commended the NGO for the gesture, saying, “we have never found it so good from an NGO like this before; we are much grateful because the children never thought of this.”

One of the children, who won a dancing competition, Jumai Abdullahi, said she was excited for the opportnuity given her to display her talent, describing this year’s Sallah as a unique one for them. One of the women, Rabi Yakubu, told newsmen: “We are very happy because nobody has ever remembered us in this our rural area before. “We are very happy that somebody remembered us today, we pray that the Lord bless them.” Another woman, Zainab Adebowale, told newsmen that they were very grateful to the NGO for feeding their children and for giving them fresh foodstuffs, and also pad for their babies.

Newsmen report that the children were given food, biscuits, ice cream and beverages, while the women got rice, noodles, sanitary pads, soaps, detergents, and other gift items.