“… all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.” 1 Timothy 1 : 5
This passage came to mind on Sunday morning when I was reflecting on why the wife of the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Ezinne Catherine Onyeme, had to carry out a far- flung free medical outreach recently.
Precisely, on Sunday, August 18, 2024, Ezinne Onyeme organised a free medical outreach at Ibabu, Onicha-Ukwuani, in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State. From my mind’s eye, one could see people from different places crowding the venue of the outreach, the residence of the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA. It was as if the Deputy Governor prepared the “Ogwa” for such event as a team of medical experts drawn from different fields of medicine, as well as support staff, expertly attended to people with different ailments, and, at the end of it all, more than 700 persons were attended to. Some of them were treated on the spot and some referred for further treatment.
In the long-run, many of the people in Ndokwa West, Ndokwa East and Ukwuani Local Government Areas of Delta State heaved a sigh of relief as they knew their health status, following their participation in the outreach.
At a stage, I asked one of my close friends, Dr. Henry Ojefia, who stood on his feet all through the event directing those who came for medical attention to the necessary sections, that, “Doc., imagine if there is a war situation and a refugee camp, is this how the Medical experts will always be busy?” Dr. Ojefia, who is the personal physician to the Deputy Governor, did not give an answer as he hardly had the time for conversation; he just kept moving from one person/patient to the other.
As an individual, I also seized the opportunity to check my sight and Dr. Gloria Ferife, a renowned Ophthalmologist, who is also a Permanent Secretary in the Delta State Civil Service, confirmed that all was well but not without giving me some eye drops to stop the itching which was my major complaint. In short, the heap of drugs on the tables could make one to ask if they intended to open a Pharmaceutical shop but at the end of the day, we watched the heap of drugs come down as they were administered freely to the people.
Beyond the free medical checks and free provision of drugs, all those who came to the venue were also fed and given a token each to cover their fares.
As a Catholic, I am aware that when it comes to charity, you do not need to have so much before you give, and, going by the Biblical injunction of loving your neighbour as you love yourself, once you see someone in need, and you have the means of rendering assistance, it is just godly for you to do so. If we engage in such actions of mutual sharing, the society will be a better place. In some circles, this human virtue of charity is called wealth redistribution, while to some people, it is simply a demonstration of love and its noble variant, care.
As an inquisitive journalist, I made out time to chat with Ezinne Onyeme who was also seen moving around, accompanied by the General Manager of the Delta Broadcasting Service, DBS, Asaba, Mrs Christine Emetulu, beaming with smile and encouraging the ailing and the medical experts.
As someone who works with the Deputy Governor, it was not unusual to see Ezinne Onyeme display motherly love but on this day, she squeezed out time for a lively chat in the course of which she disclosed that God had blessed her husband and her family so much that after surviving a major surgical operation, her zeal to give back to the society was rekindled.
To her, some of those who went for a similar surgery did not come out from the theatre alive and after her experience, it was only natural for her to go for a Christian Thanksgiving which she did at St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Asaba, and at St. John’s Anglican Church, Ibabu.
But beyond the thanksgiving to God, it also occurred to her that there are several people in the society who are suffering because they do not have access to good medical services. This knowledge spurred her to embark on the free medical outreach in reference.
Luckily for her, her husband, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, the Deputy Governor of Delta State, a world-acclaimed philanthropist, keyed into the project 100 per cent. One could see the seamless flow of love between husband and wife during the outreach as they gave hope to people who thought that they were in hopeless situations.
It is worthy to note that though, as an individual, the Deputy Governor freely gives without let or hindrance , his annual scholarship programme for undergraduates using the Monday Onyeme Foundation, MOF, has seen many persons have their school fees paid throughout their studies. More than 2,000 undergraduates register for the scholarship scheme annually and as such, beneficiaries are chosen through an examination that he personally sets the questions and also, engage in the supervision and marking of the scripts.
Recall that Sir Onyeme was a secondary school teacher, a university lecturer, among other positions that he has held in the academic environment.
So, in my chat with Ezinne Onyeme, she said, “I thank God for the gift of life, I thank my husband for his support and I thank the wife of our Governor, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, for always throwing her weight behind what I am doing.
“I went for a surgery, which I believe a lot of people went through and did not make it out of the theatre, but I went through it and God saw me through the whole procedure.
“During the surgical process, I said, ‘God, if you are able to see me through, I will come to your house and thank you and as well, use a day such as this to also reach out to those at the grassroot and do free medical treatment for them.
“So, when I returned, I decided to give thanks and praises to God by going for thanksgiving at the church, to thank God for saving my life and by reaching out to those that are not privileged to access the hospital for one treatment or the other.
“At least, God gave me the privilege and God gave me the resources to go for the surgical operation, but seeing most of these people who are here today, they might not have such resources to do what I did and I thank God for this opportunity to reach out to them.
“This free medical outreach is part of me saying, ‘God, thank you for all you have done for me.’
“Our target was for 700 persons but from what I am seeing, we have surpassed that number and more persons are still coming for check up and treatment.
“The team of doctors is here testing for malaria, high blood pressure, ulcer, diabetes, waist pain, general eye care, and there are other cases that our team of medical personnel are also taking care of.”
Ezinne Onyeme, used the occasion to urge the people at the grassroot and Deltans in general to always take their health seriously by going for regular medical check up and seeking medical advice.
She stated, “I want to advise our people at the grassroot and all Deltans to always check themselves medically; they don’t need to be sick before they do that.
“They should always visit the hospital for check up because the earlier they detect what their ailment is, the better.
“Our people say, prevention is better than cure; so, if they go on time to check their medical status, they will be able to know their problem and tackle them before they get worse, thereby, saving lives.
“I also want to urge them to take advantage of free medical outreaches like this; they should always go for check up and whenever there is free medical outreach like this, they should come out and participate.”
Dr. (Mrs) Aghogho Akpe, a Consultant Ophthalmologist at General Hospital, Okwe who led a team of other medical personnel to the event, told newsmen that a lot of those who came had eye issues, some with glaucoma, others with irreversible blindness, while some had diabetes, high blood pressure, low blood sugar, ulcer and malaria, among others, and they were treated and given drugs.
To cap it all, beneficiaries of the medical outreach programme thanked the wife of the Deputy Governor for giving them medical succour.
But will it be the last time that Ezinne Onyeme will engage in such medical outreach,? She categorically said, “NO. This is just the beginning; from the support I received from individuals, the joy on the faces of the beneficiaries and my personal conviction that God is using me to reach out to the people, we will take stock of what we did today, look at the main areas of need of our people, and engage in more medical outreach programmes which may hold in any part of our state. Certainly, most of our people in the villages need this type of outreach and if you can help people, please, do so.”
Her activities also brought to the fore, the need to properly equip the health centre at Ugiliamai, Onicha-Ukwuani and with the handover of the Central Hospital, Kwale, for the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences Teaching, Hospital, Kwale, the need to build a standard government hospital at Onicha-Ukwuani to serve the people of Ogume, Onicha-Ukwuani, Utagba-Uno in Ndokwa West Local Government Area and the people of Ossissa, Obikwele, Afor, Onuabor, Abala and other kingdoms in Ndokwa East Local Government Area has become urgent.
In a lot of ways, Onicha-Ukwuani is central, has a table land and is blessed with hospitable people. The people are also yearning for government’s presence in the area of road construction and the provision of electricity and other facilities.
Ezinne Onyeme is a strong member of the Lions Club International, members of which were also there in their numbers to render assistance.
The Christian holy book, the Bible, admonishes thus “Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.” – Proverbs 21:13 and again, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” – Hebrews 13:16
This is instructive and Ezinne Onyeme has not only heard it but has kept faith with its injunction, its vital essence
And with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, encouraging Deltans to engage in charitable activities through accountable and transparent governance, Delta can only be better.
God bless Delta State.
Fidelis Egugbo, is the Senior Special Assistant, Media, to the Governor of Delta State and Chief Press Secretary to Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme.
