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A total of 53 patients drawn from both the federal medical centre and Asaba Specialist Hospital have expressed appreciation to the wife of the Delta state governor, Dame Edith Okowa following the payment of their medical bills and that of their children to the tune of N11.2million.

Besides the medical bills of the patients settled by the governor’s wife, she also presented one million Naira to one Mr. Lucky Monday whose wife delivered a set of triplets and five hundred thousand Naira to another lady, one Ufuoma, a female tricycle rider who defied all odds and took to tricycle riding.

Also, Dame Okowa visited eight leper settlements in Ossiomo, Eku, Ayakoromo, Ute-Elegu, Agbor Ogwash, Okwagbe, Jedo and Ibrede communities spread within the three senatorial districts of Delta state. The governor’s wife show of love to these Deltans was in commemoration of the 2022 International Day of Charity which holds annually on September 5.

The International Day of Charity was declared by the United Nations in 2012 to be celebrated September 5 every year. The prime purpose of the day is to raise awareness and provide a common platform for charity related activities all over the world.

It was established with the objective of mobilising and sensitizing people, NGOs and stakeholders all around the world to help others through volunteer and philanthropic activities.

The date of September 5 was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the passing of Mother Theresa of Calcuta who received the noble prize of peace in 1979 for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty, and distress which constitute threat to peace.

The governor’s wife who commenced her visitation from the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba through to Asaba Specialist Hospital before proceeding to other places, told the patients that God is using the 05 Initiative, her pet project as instrument to meet the needs of the patients who could not afford their bills after being discharged from the hospitals.

While presenting the cheques to the hospital management, she prayed for God to speed up the healings of all patients in the hospitals both those whose bills were paid and others.

“Those whose bills have been paid and others God will heal all of them. God will bless the caregivers, and health personnel. God will take care of all of them. God will meet all needs of the patients; the blood of Jesus will speak for everyone.

“There is every reason to praise God. Some people enter theatre but do not come out but all of you came out, it is God’s handwork. All of you must go to your homes. God will give all of you speedy healings. Trust God because he is able to take care of you. Leave your burden for God. God says all of you will rise,” the governor’s wife said.

Chief Medical Director of Asaba Specialist Hospital, Dr. Peace Oseghe, commended the governor’s wife for her love for the less privileged in society. She said: “Her Excellency has passion for helping people. She has a track record of showing love to people. Everybody may not have the ability to do it at Her Excellency’s capacity but you can show love to someone next to you.

“Expressing concern for someone is another way of showing love and not necessarily giving money to somebody. I want to thank the governor’s wife for her kindness to people who are less privileged.

“She is under no obligation to do what she is doing. She goes out of her way to help people. I pray God will continue to bless her and as he blesses her she will do more for people in society.

“Charity is getting to show love to someone. It is a very important aspect of life, we should encourage people to show love, help the less privileged among us. It’s not only meant for the rich. Everybody can help at different capacities. You can’t say because you are poor you can’t help somebody. No matter how poor you are you are encouraged to show love to other people.”

She said the patients were selected based on their social status noting “We did not select patients who can afford their bills. We selected patients who cannot pay their bills.

“Over time we’ve seen that they don’t have the money to pay. On that basis we made selection. Some have been here for up to three months. They cut across those with legs cut off due to accident, fire burns, domestic accident, premature birth and kept in incubator for months.”

A mother of one of the babies, Mrs. Helen Nwabueze, expressed appreciation to the governor’s wife after paying bills for her child’s treatment. She told journalists that she never expected the good gesture of the governor’s wife.

She said: “I’m so happy and excited. Her Excellency came to the hospital and remembered me and my son. She paid our bills. I didn’t expect it to come like that. We came here August 12. My child has hole in the heart. We have been discharged but the money is so much for us to pay.

“Every one hour we spent was N1000 with oxygen. For her to remember me God will bless her. I’m from Enugu state, not a Deltan. I’m a corps member serving in Delta state in Oshimili south local government council. I like Delta state. I’ve never experienced this before. I don’t know whether my state is doing this but I want all states to emulate Delta state.”