So far, families of victims of last Friday’s shootings at two Polio Immunization centres have received a total sum of N24.45 from the Federal Government, Kano State Government and the Dangote Foundation.
The donations were made to support the families to carry on with life and as compensation for the lost of their loved ones.
Kano state government donated the sum of N500, 000 each to families of the ten health
workers, killed last Friday in separate attacks, by unknown gunmen in Kano
city. Equally, the government donated N250, 000 to four others that sustained
injuries to during the attack.
The state governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso announced this during a meeting with family
members of the victims at the Government House in Kano. He said the money was
to enable the cushion the sorrow of the bereaved.
He also announced that the chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has donated
N500, 000 to each of the bereaved families and N250, 000 to each of the wounded.
Governor
Kwankwaso, who sympathized with the victims prayed to Almighty Allah to grant
them eternal bliss. He assured that the state government will not relent in the
fight against killer diseases, urging wealthy individuals and organizations to
emulate Alhaji Dangote by teaming up with the administration to eradicate
diseases.
To this end, the Federal Government donated N1 million each to the 10 family members, with N200, 000 each for the seven injured victims. The Chairman of Dangote group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote donated N500,000 each to the bereaved families and N250,000 each to the injured victims.
The Federal Government donation to the families of the victims was made through a delegation, led by the State Minister for Health, Ali Pate, who was accompanied by five Northern Emirs on a condolence visit and were received in audience by the Acting State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on behalf of Governor Kwankwaso who is in London to assess the health condition of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, whose convoy was recently attacked by gunmen.
The Minister of Health told Ganduje that they were in Kano to condole with the Government, people of Kano, as well as family members of the affected health workers, describing the incident as unfortunate and barbaric.
Ali Pate recalled that three health workers had earlier lost their lives in Borno in similar circumstances in addition to the murder of Korean Doctors in Yobe General Hospital, “It is an unfortunate tragic attack on innocent people trying to immunize and protect children.
Despite the prevailing circumstances, we won’t be deterred by this evil act and that is why we are praying to the Almighty Allah to touch the heart of the perpetrators to have a change of mind.
He said the Federal Government’s contribution should not be regarded as compensation, as human lives cannot be quantified in monetary terms, adding that it is merely assistance, considered necessary for now.
The Acting Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, while receiving the Federal Government cheque, admitted that the attack on the health workers, who were on vaccination exercise against polio in the state came at a time when Kano was almost achieving the desired goal on the immunization exercise, pointing that : “We will not be deterred as we will still continue to pursue our target of eradicating polio by December 2013.”
According to him, the incident would mark a turning point in the polio exercise, saying it would be approached as a normal medical or health programme without celebration or attracting any form of attention.
“Hospitals in the state would be put in major shape with all required equipment needed for Polio vaccination where those for polio would just walk in like any other patient and get immunized.
Ganduje promised that all donations to the victims would be presented to family members, adding that already, they have been identified and in touch with the authorities.
