COVID -19: ASUU donates sanitisers, others to Imo government

Members of the Owerri žone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has donated cartons of alcohol-based hand sanitisers to the Imo State government for onward transmission to the communities in the state to fight and prevent the transmission of the novel Coronavirus (COVID- 19) pandemic in the state.

The chairman of the union, Prof. Užochukwu Onyebinama, who presented the items on behalf of the union in the žone, said it was the humble contribution of the body in its efforts to fight the pandemic.

Onyebinama disclosed that ASUU members, in conjunction with other scientists would not relent in embarking on research programmes that would find lasting solution to the disease, while imploring other Nigerian universities and stakeholders to support in the fight.

He urged all in academia to rise and support the “ war until it is defeated.”
Receiving the items on behalf of Uzodinma, the chairman of COVID -19 prevention and control committee, Prof. Cosmas Iwu, 

Iwu expressed joy that the clarion call was already yielding positive results, expressing joy that ASUU produced the product and donated to government for the purpose.

Professor Iwu, who said the sanitisers were produced by the department of pharmacy of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, encouraged the union not to rest on its oars, but continue to carry out medical research especially at this time that the coronavirus pandemic is ravaging the world.

He further commended the ASUU for daring all handicaps including the non-payment of salaries, disagreement with government and the stay at home order, to produce what would help sedate the coronavirus scourge.

Prof. Iwu added that the state government was grateful for the presentation, which he described as “the greatest donation the government has received so far.”

“That Government has so far received other palliatives to cushion the effect of the corona virus disease and stay at home other but the State government is seeing this from the point of view of the sacrifice you made to come to this level of presentation.”
He assured the association that the sanitisers will get to the targeted audience as well as be put to good use in the fight against the dreaded disease.