A humanitarian organisation, KAS Consult Limited, has commenced the distribution of Personal Protective Equipment worth N50 million to secondary school pupils in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The beneficiaries were pupils who would write the Senior School Certificate Examination conducted by the West African Examination Council.

The organisation said the gesture was part of its effort to support the efforts of the Federal Government in its drive to combat COVID – 19.

The company also unveiled its protection pack called KAS 3-in-1, which consisted of a medically approved face shield, a cotton face mask and a portable hand sanitiser spray with up to 70 per cent alcohol which was produced in Nigeria.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Mr Ademola Kasumu, said the event was to commemorate the World Mask Week.

Among the schools that benefited from the donation were Junior Secondary School Karu; Community Secondary School Asokoro; FCT Mass Education Karu; Federal Government Boys College, Gudu and many other schools within the FCT.

Kasumu said, “The Presidential Task Force on COVID – 19 recently warned that the nation is at a very dangerous stage of community transmission, even as it expressed concern that the pandemic may spread to all the 774 Local Government Areas of the federation.

 “Until there is a vaccine, the only option we have as citizens to protect ourselves is still the non-pharmaceutical measures which have proven to be cheap and effective, such as the appropriate use of face masks.”

The Head of Supply Chain of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Eneh Chibuzor said, “In the absence of a vaccine, our best hope of reducing transmission of COVID – 19 is through non-pharmaceutical interventions like the use of face masks in public places and physical distancing.

“We advise Nigerians to continue to adhere to the recommended measures. The most important advice for our students is to maintain good hand and respiratory hygiene to remain safe.”