The Nigerian Foundation for the Support of Victims of Terrorism,otherwise called Victims Support Fund (VSF), has signed a memorandum of understanding with three hospitals for the treatment and care of victims of terror in Borno and Yobe states.
The MoU, which was signed at separate times within the week by the Executive Director of the Foundation, Prof. Sunday Abogonye Ochoche, in Maiduguri and Damaturu, also gave a cheque of N20 million each to the three hospitals.
The beneficiary hospitals include the Borno State Specialist Hospital Maiduguri, the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and the Gen. Sani Abatcha Specialist Hospital, Damaturu in Yobe State.
Ochoche at separate signing ceremonies in Maiduguri and Damaturu, urged the management of the hospitals to use the funds judiciously for the care of victims of terror attacks in the states.
He said the desire of the VSF is to make sure that all the hospitals are assisted to perform at their minimum best in taking care of victims of terror attacks.
He said: “We at the Victims Support Funds are aware that we cannot meet all the challenges that your hospitals face in the treatment of victims of terror attacks. However, the presentation that we are making is to assist you in delivering better services to victims of terror attacks who are usually brought to your hospitals.
“We are aware that over time, when these attacks occur, your facilities are over-stretched and therefore this kind of support is crucial for the provision of equipment, drugs and facilitates for improved service delivery to the victims.”
He described the donations as just a small element of the good things that are in stock for the victims of Boko Haram attacks, adding that the foundation’s attention at the moment is geared towards the rehabilitation of women and the provision of good and sustainable education for the orphans of insurgency.
He also announced that seven hospitals are benefitting from the programme with majority coming from the North East, comprising Borno, Yobe, Gombe and Adamawa in the first phase while the second phase will comprise Taraba, Bauchi and Plateau states.
Dr. Abdulrahaman Tahir, the Chief Medical Director of UMTH; Dr. Salisu Kwaya Kura of the Borno Specialist Hospital and Dr. Garba Musa Fika all signed the MoU on behalf of their hospitals. They all promised to use the funds for the purpose it was meant for.