By Princewill Ekwujuru

As part of it Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and  commitment to healthy living, Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Limited has donated range of its  products including; Mortein, Dettol and Harpic to victims of the recent flooding in Bayelsa State. The gesture was aimed at complementing the various efforts by government and public-spirited organisations and individuals to bring relief to the victims.

The products were received by the office of the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Rachael Dickson, in Yenagoa, the state capital for distribution to the victims at the various relief camps set up by the state government. The assistance from the company was made on the platform of its Mortein insecticide brand’s partnership with the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), which is currently holding its 5th Quadrennial 2012 National Delegate Conference in Yenagoa.

Speaking at the presentation of the products, the Brand Manager (Mortein), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Yusuf, said the act of kindness by Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria Limited was a further demonstration of its belief in Nigeria and the people. ‘‘This gesture is simply to demonstrate again that the people are at the heart of what we do at all times.

We believe that our people, who have been rendered homeless by flood, need every available help and support that they can get so that they can carry on with life again. This is no doubt a trying and difficult period, but we must all rise to their need and help them to get back their lives’’, she said.

Yusuf noted that as a responsible and responsive organisation, Reckitt Benckiser was sensitive enough to know the health and hygiene challenges which persons displaced by flooding were facing especially children and pregnant mothers.

She explained, “We know that in situation like this, children and pregnant mothers are more easily predisposed to health situations like malaria, diarrhoea and other respiratory diseases. This is why we have come in our own little way to offer whatever help we can to see to the improvement of lives at the camp especially those of children and pregnant mothers, and every other Nigerian.’’

Receiving the products on behalf of the flood victims, the First Lady, Mrs. Dickson, commended Reckitt Benckiser for its concern for the people of Nigeria. Represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Sarafina Otazi, she said the assistance would go a long way in alleviating the plight of the beneficiaries.

‘‘This act of kindness demonstrated by Reckitt Benckiser will significantly impact the lives of the people. Definitely, it will bring succour to them and make them smile again while they make gradual return to their normal lives.’’ She appealed to other corporate organisations and well meaning Nigerians to emulate the example shown by the company by offering their assistance to flood victims across Nigeria.

On his part, NANNM National President, Mr. Lawal Hussaini Dutsinma described Reckitt Benckiser as a worthy and progressive partner whose commitment to the health and welfare of Nigerians was unequalled. He added that the company has remained at the forefront of efforts to make Nigerians especially children and mothers healthy and free from the scourge of malaria and other diseases.

‘‘The show of love shown to the internally displaced persons in Bayelsa depicts them as a responsible, caring and sensitive organisation. It shows a company that responds to the needs of people irrespective of their location in the country. This, I must say is laudable and worthy of emulations by other organisations in the country’’, he said.