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By Emmanuel Mogbede
The Centre for Wounded Servicemen and Fallen Heroes Supports Fund (CFWS/FHSF), has assured that it would continue to support widows and families of fallen heroes in the country for them to live comfortably.
Retired Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe, Chairman of the Centre’s Board of Trustees (BoT), gave the assurance in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, adding that its principal objective was to bring succour and relief to widows of fallen heroes.
He said the centre was also poised to play complimentary role to government’s efforts in caring for the families of military fallen heroes who died while protecting the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CFWS/FHSF is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), set up to honour and render assistance to wounded servicemen and families left behind by fallen heroes.
Esekhaigbe said the centre recently distributed 300 pieces of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITMNs) to widows of fallen heroes in commemoration of World Malaria Day, celebrated globally on April 25.
This, he explained, was part of the centre’s gesture to continue to support initiatives aimed at eradicating malaria in the country.
He recalled that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had reported that approximately 55 million cases of malaria and nearly 90,000 malaria-related deaths occur yearly in Nigeria, which was one the highest in the world.
Esekhaigbe added that the concern of the centre was to see to the total elimination of malaria in Nigeria, saying that this was the reason it provided nets for malaria prevention.
He noted that the successful control of malaria would increase productivity, improve health and reduce school absenteeism by pupils and students.
According to him, it will also reduce poverty amongst widows and children of fallen heroes and felicitate the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria.
“As a centre, we will continue to support initiatives geared towards eradicating malaria in the country to achieve zero malaria by 2030 in line with WHO’s technical strategic goal.
“Malaria remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria with estimated 97 million cases and 300,000 death annually, according to WHO.
“The contribution and the sacrifices of our fallen heroes are enormous, hence the centre resolved to contribute its quota to assist and distributes insecticide-treated mosquito nets to their widows in the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force.
“The families of officers and men who took risks, including paying the supreme sacrifices to keep us safe, deserve our support.
“Better days are ahead, we will never forget the families of our fallen heroes, though tongues and tribes may differ, in brotherhood we stand,” he stressed.
Esekhaigbe appreciated the efforts of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Leo Irabor, and other Service Chiefs for the work they are doing to ensure security in the country, especially at various territorial boundaries.
(NAN)
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