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LG Boss Hails Church For Donating Food Items To 500 Widows In Eleme
The Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Hon. Obarilomate Ollor has thanked Arlington Assembly of God in the state of Virginia, USA for her kind gesture to the people of Eleme, which includes donation of food items and free medical outreach to over 500 widows.
Speaking with widows drawn from the 10 clans of Eleme, Obarilomate, who was represented by his Vice, Hon. Virtue Ekee while recounting how late Paul Neubauer had contributed greatly to Elemeland, thanked the church, maintaining that the people of Eleme would remain eternally grateful to the late Neubauer and Arlington Assembly of God Church.
The chairman called on other well-to-do individuals in the society to emulatelate Neubauer, as according to him, it would complement government’s effort in improving the people’s standard of living.
Obarilomateadvised mothers to ensure their children were resourceful and detached from restiveness so as to maintain the current peace being enjoyed in Eleme.
He seized the opportunity to celebrate women on the occasion of the International Women’s Day, eulogising women as the brains behind a safer society.
Obarilomateurged all Elemewomen to remain patient, strong in times of difficulty and strife to be independent.
The chairman thanked the state Governor, Chief NyesomWike for not just giving women opportunity in politics but also in governance.
According to him, Wikeis and remains the best performing governor, calling on all others in leadership positions to emulate his style of leadership.
The programme tagged, “Food and Health in Eleme” was part of the Mission Project 2022 of Arlington Assembly of God in honour of late Rev. Paul Neubauer, a preacher and American missionary who had contributed immensely to the development of Eleme land.
Earlier, Co-ordinator of the project and Chairman, Board of Trustees, OfalarunEleme USA Inc., Chief Benjamin Osarolai while speaking on the essence of the gesture, said the legacy of late Paul Neubauer lives on even in death, adding that late Neubauer became passionate about improving the standard of living in Eleme after his first visit to Eleme when he saw the predicament of the Ekporo people, and the then state of the general hospital.
According to Osarolai, that spurred him to set up a structure which still lives on despite his death.
He disclosed that the gesture, which is in honour of late Paul Neubauer,was to benefit over 500 widows who are downtrodden and provides one-day free healthcare services to all who have health challenges and cannot afford to cater for such needs.
On her part, the traditional head of Eleme Women, Chief Ada Gokpahas extended special thanks on behalf of the entire widows and women of Eleme to the conveners of the event, and lauded late Paul Neubauer for always remembering Eleme, even in his death.
The items presented to the widows include rice, beans, garri, onions, and tomatoes, amongst others.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
