Ololade Adeyanju/
As part of its contributions to the fight against the Covid-19 global pandemic, a non-governmental organisation, Dare To Care (D2C), is donating hundreds of face masks and soap to vulnerable children, especially hawkers, on the streets of Lagos.
The organisation said it took the decision to help the children after observing that majority of them who hawk on the streets and in market places to support their families during this period are not wearing masks in line with the directives of the government of Lagos State.
Executive Director of Dare To Care, Miss Olajumoke Omolale, who praised the efforts of the state government in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, said the hygiene items, put together in a pack per beneficiary, were acquired through the efforts of the organisation, “after we realised that many children, especially hawkers who are helping their parents and guardians survive these hard times, did not put on their masks while walking on the streets.
“We believe this could be very dangerous to them, their families, friends and neighbours”.
She said her organisation would continue to give the items to the children as long as the resources to procure them were available, adding that some of the beneficiaries and their guardians/parents have been coming back to express gratitude for the exercise.
She appealed to parents/guardians to minimise the way they sent their children/wards to hawk on the streets, especially now, as a way of saving them from the Covid-19 infection.
She added: “I will also like to add that mask sellers and others who make for personal use should take up the responsibility of making for the hawkers in their own areas. There is very little we can do from here, but impact is more if everyone contributes collectively.”
Miss Omolale also appealed to public-spirited individuals and organisations to come to the aid of D2C, “so that we can do more to protect our children, especially the vulnerable ones, from this pandemic”.
2