-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –By Albert OGRAKA:
*Builds Boreholes *2500 LG Women Get Palliatives *Food, Clothing For Needy In Churches To Mark Int’l Day Of Charity
As part of activities to mark the 2020 International Day of Charity, wife of Delta State Governor, Dame Edith Okowa, has settled the medical bills of thirteen indigent patients who received various forms of medical treatment at the Federal Medical Center in Asaba, at a cost of over three million naira.
Dame Okowa, has since 2017, through her pet programme, 05 Initiative, paid over N20 million for indigent patients in Delta State who are unable to pay for medical services rendered to them by the hospital.
In her address, she explained that the annual week-long event of the International Day of Charity, as instituted by the United Nations was to commemorate the death of Mother Teresa on 5th of September.
According to her, “For the past three years, the grace of God has enabled us to fulfill our mission of visiting the sick and paying their bills at the Federal Medical Center (F.M.C) Asaba. Though the Covid 19 season has restricted us from visiting our patients, it will not stop us from paying their bills.”
While officially making the payments to the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Center, Dr Victor Osiatuma, she commended the management and staff for partnerning with the 05 initiative.
“We are grateful for your support and for giving hope to the common man, you do not bore them with payments before treatment; you render services to keep them alive. Man can only appreciate you but God will reward you abundantly for this show of Love.
“I rejoice with and congratulate those who will be discharged today, as you return home, continue to be in health and make sure you take your medications regularly and stay safe.”
She however, stressed the value of charitable gestures and called on Nigerians to imbibe the habit of giving.
“I will also like to thank our donors for their financial commitment to this laudable course, I urge you not to relent in doing good, may the Lord bless you.
“I will like to point out that the International day of Charity is not solely for the 05 team, it is for everyone; there is something you can do, there is somebody you can help, you may not have so much to give, but a little bit of kindness will help change our world, one person at time.”
Eulogising the work of Her Excellency, Dame Edith Okowa, through the 05 Initiative, the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Center, Dr Victor Osiatuma, recalled that in the past three years, over N20 million have been spent on the payment of medical bills for the indigent patients.
Being her resolve to helping the less privileged persons in the society through the 05 Initiative, Dame Okowa on Friday, September 04, 2020 at her office in Government House, Asaba made the presentation of the money to Management of FMC with representatives of Ministry of Health in attendance.
Meanwhile, the Governor’s wife during an interview at the Government House Asaba, disclosed that the 05 Initiative had earlier inaugurated three mono-pump borehole projects for residents of Mile 5 community in Anwai, as part of the celebrations.
She further revealed that palliatives have also been given to one hundred women in each of the twenty five local government areas of the state in the course of the week-long event.
Dame Okowa, added that the 05 Initiative Project also distributed food items to several Churches across the state to mark the 2020 International Day of Charity.
