Three Communities Benefit From Proverty Alleviation Programme

Three autonomous communities in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia, have benefitted from poverty alleviation programme rendered by Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA).

The communities are Azuogwugwu, Avo and Mgboko-Oriaefula.

Associate Country Director of the Agency Pastor Daniel Oriaku, said this on Thursday in Umuahia when he led some officials of the Agency on a courtesy call on Mr Solomon Adaelu, the state Commissioner for Rural Development.

ADRA is an arm of the Seventh Day Adventist Church involved in provision of humanitarian services to the distressed.

The Agency also provides support for the less privileged in the society and partners with the government to alleviate their plight through sustainable empowerment.

Oriaku said the Agency was not only committed to raising the spiritual and material standard of the down-trodden, but also responsive in crisis situations.

“The Church emphasises the love of God and humanity and so we look at the plight of the less privileged and try to partner with government to alleviate the sufferings of our people.”

ADRA Director, East Nigeria Conference of the Church, Pastor Stanley Etekuru, said the Agency undertook needs assessment of the three communities.

“We noticed that the people for a long time led very precarious life contingent upon endemic water-borne diseases.

“Incidents of cholera, diarrhea, dysentery and typhoid occasioned by germs and other harmful bacteria found in the unhealthy sources of water used by the people, had claimed many lives here.”

Etekuru said in its efforts to address the situation, the Agency decided to sink three boreholes in the communities.

He solicited for the support and partnership of the state government in the areas of fencing and provision of generating sets to power the boreholes.

The Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr Solomon Adaelu, commended the church for its interest in the welfare of the less privileged, saying that its vision was similar to that of the Ministry.

He said the government would support any laudable project that would uplift the standard of living of the people.

“I am excited that ADRA will partner with us to further advance the course of providing infrastructure to people.”