By Sunny A. Ijomah
The wife of Anambra State Governor, Chief (Mrs) Ebelechukwu Obiano has offset the over one point seven million Naira medical bills of Mrs. Ifeoma Nwaka, who recently gave birth to quintuplets.
Mrs. Nwaka was recently delivered of five babies, three boys and two girls, after a successful Invitro Fertilization spearheaded by the Chief Medical Officer of Life International Hospital, Awka, Professor Joseph Ikechebelu.
Presenting the cheque to the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Chief Mrs Obiano disclosed that the gesture was a reaffirmation of the ideologies of her Non-Governmental Organization, Caring Family Enhancement Initiative, CAFE, which centres on giving a hand of hope to the poor.
She described Anambra state as a blessed land, citing the recent success of the students of Regina Pacis Model School, Onitsha in World Technovation competition as a true story of a successful Anambra state.
She called on the parents of the babies to double their efforts in order to ensure that the children get the best in their chosen life’s dreams, stressing that the excuse of limited resources should not undermine their parental obligations to the babies.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Professor Ikechebelu, who had given a five percent discount on the bills, said intervention of the Governor’s wife tells a rare story of a mother whose sacrifices for her children are priceless, adding that the new hospital remains committed to the best.
The Pediatrician In-Charge at the hospital and medical personnel who manned the delivery processes of the babies, Doctor Kenneth Okeke, said the babies are doing well after spending two weeks in the neo-natal intensive care unit of the hospital as a result of the pregnancy time frame which lasted for approximately thirty-two weeks.
He solicited external help for the mother and the babies, noting that their nutritional demands have increased, and that dependence on breast milk was impossible, adding that supplementary diets are needed as well.
In the Governor’s Wife’s entourage were the Commissioner for Women, Children and Social Welfare, Lady Ndidi Mezue, whose Ministry also presented baby wears, beverages, toiletries, and other household items, the Transition Committee Chairman of Awka North, Mr. Lawrence Onwuzuluike, who gave the sum of hundred thousand Naira, and the Member Representing Orumba South at the State House of Assembly, Princess Nikki Ugochukwu, who supported with the sum of fifty thousand Naira.
The quintuplets’ mother, Mrs. Nwaka, who could not hide her amazement, said she was initially shocked with the ultrasound result, but carried on and saw it as miraculous.
She said the visit by Chief Mrs. Obiano capped the family’s testimony story, given that she had always heard of the Governor’s Wife’s goodwill in the media, without any forethought she would be a beneficiary someday.
Meanwhile, the importance of appreciation is recognized even in the Holy Bible where Christ asked for appreciation from the ten lepers whom he cured of their disease.
To this end, the father of the quintuplets delivered at Life International Hospital Awka, Mr. Ogbonnaya Nwaka has expressed profound gratitude to Nigerians for rendering financial assistance to his family whom God recently blessed with three boys and two girls.
Speaking to newsmen, Mr. Nwaka said he was full of gratitude to the people for the high level of solidarity shown his family.
He thanked especially the newsmen for reaching out to the public who in turn responded immediately and came to their aid praying God to strengthen them in their service to humanity.
Mr. Nwaka said that he has received close to eight hundred thousand naira from the donations which he noted is very helpful especially in the present harsh economic situation in the country.
Meanwhile, the families have been discharged but are still in the hospital because they are yet to offset their bills of almost N2million.
