By Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

The Victim Support Fund has donated 60,000 rapid test kits to the National Youth Service Corps to fight COVID-19 pandemic ahead of the May orientation exercise.

The equipment will be used to test corps members for COVID-19 before they are allowed to enter the orientation camps nationwide.

Chairperson of the Victim Support Fund COVID-19 Task Force, Mrs. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, who made the donation, said the rapid test kits were the single largest donation to the NYSC, which would be used during the forthcoming orientation course.

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She lauded the Federal Government, the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and NYSC for their efforts in tackling the virus.

Mrs. Akerele-Ogunsiji, who spoke on behalf of the Chairman of VSF, Gen Theophilus Danjuma (retd), said NYSC is the most crucial component of the country with high population density.

In a statement by the NYSC Director, Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi, the Chairperson of the VSF added that there was need to deploy full medical support to reduce COVID-19 mortality rate among Nigerians.

Director-General of the NYSC Brig-Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim commended the Federal Government, Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and the NCDC for supporting the NYSC Scheme.