The Nigerian Red Cross Society is to commence a cash transfer to 300 vulnerable households to cushion the effect of Covid 19 pandemic in Taraba state, north eastern Nigeria.
State Secretary, Taraba Red Cross Branch Office, Mr. Manja Martin made this know on Thursday while fielding questions from journalists on the 2020 World Humanitarian Day in Jalingo.
He said, three local government areas were selected to benefit from the programme in the state, adding that the amount would be determine after conducting a market survey to ascertain the cost of commodities.
According to Mr. Manja Martin, the organisation would change from donating food items to vulnarable households to cash, believing that it would reduce the cost of transportation and would impact better on the beneficiaries.
However, the Branch Secretary also announced that as part of activities marking the 2020 World Humanitarian Day, they have selected volunteers from 3 LGAs who are currently undergoing Training on Risk Communication and Community Engagement in the prevention of Covid-19 pandemic.
He said 20 participants were selected from each of the local government areas of Takum, Gassol and Jalingo with a view to assist in sensitizing the local communities on the dreaded Corona Virus.
The number of the selected volunteers for the training was caught down because of the limited resources that were available for the branch, where Mr. Manja Martin called on wealthy individuals and organizations for more donations to assist the needy in the society.
Some of the participants who spoke to journalists, Halima Yakubu and Mr. Emmanuel Allah Sarki described the training as timely, considering the fact that the whole world is experiencing Covid-19 pandemic and commended the Nigerian Red Cross Society for the initiative.
According to them, they have learned a lot and promised to stepdown the training to enlighten the people in their localities that Corona Virus is real as well as to encourage them to abide by the Covid-19 protocols to avoid contracting and spreading the virus.