The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) said on Thursday that it had donated 100 motoriised hand washing machines to some institutions and governments of its four franchise states.
The Chief Head of BEDC in Edo, Mr Abel Enechaziam, told newsmen in Benin that the gesture was part of the company’s relief packages to its franchise areas and communities.
The beneficiaries are Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti as well as the University of Benin (UNIBEN), University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and the Federal Neuro-Psychiatic Hospital, Uselu, also in Edo.
Enechaziam said : “Asides the of 6000 bags of rice and 6000 cartoons of Indomie noodles donated to the governments of states under our operation, we also find it right to be safe in this pandemic.
“We need to adopt this hand washing habit. To this effect, we have procured specialised handwashing machines.
“We have the first set of 100 specialised handwashing machines and we have sent them to various states of our franchise for distribution.
“We have distributed 30 in Edo, 30 in Delta and 40 in the states of Ondo and Ekiti.
“These handwashing machines are specifically for communities, Federal Government agencies, government hospitals and other public places.
“There are a lot of palliative items we have for the public but this one is peculiar because we want members of the public to form the habit of washing their hands regularly,” he said.
According to him, COVID-19 has become part of society and people must learn to live with it.
The chief head of BEDC in Edo said that the distribution of the machines would be a continual exercise.
Prof. Stanley Okogbo who received the items on behalf of the Chief Medical Director of UBTH, thanked the company for the gesture.
Okogbo, however, appealed to the electricity distribution company to assist the hospital with medical consumables.
Also, Dr Imafidon Agbonile, who received the items at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatic Hospital, Uselu, thanked BEDC for the gesture.
