COVID-19 : Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development Donated Food Items To Indigents

"The decision of the government to reach out to the 'ex-lepers' in this season, is as a result of the coronavirus pandemic that has affected the society" .... Flora Alatan.


The Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, led by the Commissioner, Mrs. Flora Alatan today distributed food items to men and women who once suffered from leprosy.

The Honourable Commissioner, Mrs. Flora Alanta, was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Kevwe Agas at the event.

The beneficiaries of the Ministry's largesse were persons who had hitherto, suffered from leprosy 
but now live with related injuries, received the food items as part of the palliative measures to help cushion the hunger effect of the Coronavirus pandemic stay at home order.

According to Mrs. Kevwe Agas who addressed newsmen shortly after the distribution, the decision of the government to reach out to the 'ex-lepers' in this season, is as a result of the coronavirus pandemic that has affected the society.

"Ex-lepers are part of the Government of Delta State and it is our duty as Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development to look after them".

In the past, we have supported the Ex-lepers and looking at the effect of the COVID-19, there is need for us to secure them with food items to cushion the hunger effect of the Coronavirus pandemic.

"Recently, we distributed food items to the Physically Challenged Persons, Orphans In Delta State".

"Today we decided to reach out to Ex-lepers with food items knowing fully well that we are in a trying period".

"As People, we need to reach out to the poor and vulnerable", she said.

Leprosy is caused by a slow-growing type of bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae, discovered in 1873.

The World Health Organisation’s statistics have shown that about 180,000 people worldwide are infected by leprosy, with most of them in Africa and Asia.