In the spirit of Valentine’s Day celebration, Livebridge Group has fed over 1,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and provided free medical services to them at the New Kuchingoro IDP Camp located in Kaura District of Abuja on Wednesday.
Livebridge Group said it has been reaching out to the less-privileged as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR), which it has been known for over five years consecutively.
The company said celebration of love can’t be complete if the less-privileged in the society are not supported.
During the celebration on Wednesday, staff members of Livebridge Properties and Investment Limited offered free medical care to over 1,000 inhabitants of the IDP camp, including refreshments to children and the elderly.
Dancing to hip hop and afrobeats music provided by a dedicated DJ, the IDPs were entertained and given a sense of belonging by the company.
They were equally checked by health professionals that were provided by the company, with many given medications for malaria, typhoid, headache, worm, high BP, sugar and other common ailments.
Some serious ailments like eye problem, diabetes, high BP, and other ailments that require surgery, were referred to the General Hospital and specialists for proper medical attention.
Speaking with journalists, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Livebridge Group, Mr Nwaneri Obinna Flaker, said that the government cannot provide everything for the IDPs, hence the adoption of the care for IDPs as its corporate social responsibility.
He said: “We have been doing this for the past five years. It’s only during the COVID-19 pandemic that we didn’t come. As you can see, the people are living in a pathetic situation. Some are getting infections from pit toilets. They don’t have pipe borne water and other basic amenities.
“That’s why we came here to reach out to over a thousand of them. As you can see, our medical doctors are attending to them and treating the ailments they have, like malaria, typhoid, high BP, diabetes, among others. We feel for them. That’s why we made it our corporate social responsibility to be visiting them from time to time with goodies.
“As you know, the government cannot do it alone. Private organizations should also be doing their best for the IDPs. We appeal to other organizations to also help out. These people need help. We will continue doing our best, hoping that the government can do more for them. All the things you are seeing here were provided by private organizations. Therefore, the government should intervene to ameliorate the sufferings of the IDPs.”
One of the beneficiaries, Charity Paul, said that as a widow, she has been suffering to cater for her family, but that the Livebridge Group has been making it a point of duty to remember them every year.
“I am grateful to be among the beneficiaries of this outreach today in celebration of St Valentine’s Day. This is not the first time that the organization will be doing this kind of outreach. In fact, they were here in September and I benefited.
“As a widow, it has not been easy taking care of my children. Even with a wound on my leg, I do go to the bush to get firewood for sale to be able to feed my family. Therefore, I appreciate the Livebridge Group for remembering us. We are grateful for the medical outreach, drinks, food and other goodies,” she said.
Other beneficiaries interviewed, such as Hafsatu Usman and Blessing Amos, all commended Livebridge Group for the yearly genture.