LEPROSY SETTLEMENT CENTRE OJI RIVER NEEDS URGENT ATTENTION – CATHOLIC BISHOP OF AWKA

Most-Revd.-Paulinus-Ezeokafor-610x407The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, the Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor has presented food items to the patients of Leprosy Settlement Centre in Oji River, Enugu State. Making the presentation, Bishop Ezeokafor explained that the donation was in the spirit of Easter celebration, in line with the missionary work of the church and the church’s concern for the plights of the inhabitants of the settlement, which is under his diocese.

He enjoined them to always look up to God in every situation, insisting that it was not over for them. The Bishop said he had awarded scholarship to 27 children of the patients, both in Primary and Secondary Schools. Bishop Ezeokafor stated that it was the social responsibility of the government to cater for the patients and urged the Enugu State Government to address the sufferings of the patients.

Earlier, Charmain of patients in the centre, Mr. Benjamin Udenze who said he had been there for 15 years said there were no doctors or medicine for the patients. Udenze said since January this year more than 5 patients of the about 193 persons including children at the quarantine had died as a result of the poor attention they received.

He said the hospital at the centre was not functional as the federal and Enugu state government were not paying attention to their plight. Udenze, who complained that families of most members had abandoned them, said the hunger and lack of medicare had made his members to resort to street begging to make ends meet. Receiving the items on behalf of the patients, the Catholic Priest of Saint Michael’s Catholic Church, Ugwuoba, the Reverend Father Romanus Okongwu thanked the Bishop for the gesture.

The Reverend Father Okongwu identified their dilapidated buildings and lack of proper medical services as some of the challenges facing the patients.

Also the Anglican Chaplain, the Reverend Rapheal Amazu while thanking the Bishop for his continued support to the centre said that apart from medical lack, the buildings and other amenities at the centre were dilapidating forcing most inmates to remain in the cities. He said bedding, toilet and bathrooms at the centre were no longer adequate for human use and begged government at all levels to come to the assistance of the centre.

Food items presented to the Leprosy Settlement Centre were 35 bags of rice, 100 tubers of yam, 5 bags of garri, 8 bags of semovita and 10 cartons of noodles.

 

KEVIN EKEDIEGWU

Previous post A SECTION OF WORKERS AT THE NATIONAL ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITAL ENUGU BEGIN INDEFINITE STRIKE
Next post VETERINARIANS CALL FOR ATTENTION TO ANIMAL PETS AS THE GLOD MARK WORLD VETERINARY
Top