Maiduguri – The Victims Support Fund (VSF) on Sunday said it had so far donated millions of naira to 16 hospitals across the North East Zone for the treatment of Boko Haram insurgency victims.
The Vice-Chairman of the Fund, Alhaji Tijjani Tumsa, stated this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.
Tumsa said that the VSF had also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the benefiting hospitals to ensure that the money was put to proper use.
“A total of 16 hospitals have so far benefited from our cash donation toward facilitating free treatment for victims of terrorism across the North East Zone.
“It is imperative to note that we also signed an MoU with the beneficiaries before presenting the donation, “ he said.
Tumsa explained that the objective was to ensure judicious utilisation of the fund.
“The MoU is basically to regulate how the money is going to be spent in terms of utilisation.
“ At every point in time, the foundation is aware of the kind of project and how the money is expended.
“That is the reason for the MoU, “ he said.
Tumsa said that the VSF last week donated N20 million to the Nigerian Air Force Medical Outreach for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno.
“Last week the foundation presented N20 million cheque to the Nigerian Air Force Medical Outreach for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno.
“We also donated N15 million to the Medical Centre of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri for a similar purpose, “ he said.
Tumsa said that the VSF was also involved in other projects aimed at providing succour for terrorism victims in the zone.
“We are also running varieties of programmes, one of which is the Women Empowerment Programme which started last year here in Maiduguri.
“That programme is going to be extended to all parts of the North East Zone.
“There are going to be programmes that have to do with agriculture and programmes that have to do with recoveries of public institutions across the entire six states of the North East.
“We are also interested in educational support, that is making sure that children of displaced persons are able to go back to school and they are equipped properly,’’ he said.(NAN)