An NGO. Pink Breathe Cancer Foundation, has donated relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Mangu, Mangu Local Government of Plateau.
It would be recalled that thousands of persons had been displaced from their ancestral homes in the area as a result of persistent attacks and were taking refuge in IDP camps.
Spokesperson of the foundation, Mrs Ogechi Okpowa, said in her remarks that the gesture was to ameliorate the sufferings of the IDPs.
Okponwa stated that the NGO had over the years, supported several healthcare programmes across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.
She said that the foundation waged war against cancer, operating mobile cancer testing centres and conducting routine medical outreach in many rural communities as well as IDP camps in Nigeria.
The public relations officer further stated that the humanitarian venture has restored hope to many individuals who were afflicted by cancer.
“The foundation also periodically distributes relief materials such as; food, clothing, educational materials and basic utilities to IDPs in various parts of Nigeria.
“Some of the recent outreaches are in the area of coordination of emergency responses in several conflict and disaster affected regions, and we have reached out to over 20000 individuals with life-saving assistance.
“We are here in Mangu to assist the people that have been forced out of their homes where they were comfortable to an IDP camp,’’ he said.
Mr Artu Markus, Management Committee Chairman of Mangu Local Government appreciated Pink Breathe Cancer Foundation for standing with the people of Mangu and indeed Plateau in their moment of travail.
Markus said that the government alone cannot meet all the needs of the IDPs stating that nobody prepared for the sad situation before it happened.
The chairman appealed to others to emulate Pink Breathe and support the government to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.
He stated that the government is working closely with security agencies, community leaders and relevant groups to ensure that beyond the relief, normalcy is restored so that the people will return to their communities.
Mr. Iliya Amos, an official of Mwaghavul Development Association, who received the relief materials on behalf of the IDPs thanked Pink Breathe for the kind gesture.
“You can see on the faces of our people, we are sad, yet we are happy that we are still alive. This will go a long way in cushioning some of the effects of what they are going through,’’ he said