An NGO, Rachel D Piper Foundation, on Saturday donated food items and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as palliatives to journalists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) amidst the fight against coronavirus pandemic.

Amb. Rachel Bakam, President of the foundation, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that the gesture was in recognition of the fundamental role of the media in daily news reportage.

According to her, selected journalists from 10 media houses, including NTA and NAN were scheduled to benefit from the items that included noodles and other food items, as well as face masks.

Bakam explained that the foundation was mindful of the fact that journalists were providing essential services as the nation grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.

She noted that many of such palliatives distributed by some other organisations were directed mainly at health workers and security agents, forgetting journalists whose roles in the COVID-19 crisis were indispensable.

“We understand the place of the media in the fight against COVID-19, and we want them to know that they are not left behind, and that is why we are distributing these palliatives to them.

“As a humanitarian foundation, we have donated sanitiser, face masks and food items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) within and outside the FCT, and we have decided to extend it to journalists.

“There is no doubt that media practitioners work tirelessly to make sure that the message about coronavirus is spread accurately and timely,” she said.

Also, Mr Ekene Ezepue, Chief Executive Officer of Alert News Magazine, who partnered with the NGO in the project, said that the media were critical stakeholders in the collective fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As people in the media sector, we want to reach out to our brothers and sisters, who are most susceptible to being infected by this virus.

“They need to be encouraged because they risk their lives in striving to give us information we need to stay safe and alive,” he said.

Mr Alex Nwankwo, PRO of the foundation and publisher of Alex Reports, told NAN on the sideline of the event that journalists were in dire need of protective equipment and special palliatives to enable them perform optimally.

“Nigerians depend on the media for reliable information and without them (journalists) the information about coronavirus preventive measures will not get to the people,” he said.

Responding, Mr Julius Enehikhuere, NAN Deputy Editor-In-Chief expressed gratitude to Rachel D Piper Foundation on behalf of the benefiting journalists in the Agency.

He noted that the gesture was an indication that journalists were recognised as important stakeholders, especially in times of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.(NAN)