In spite of their seemingly challenging terrain, the people of Burutu have witnessed a significant health lift as the wife of the governor, Dame Edith Okowa, on Wednesday flagged off a 5-day free eye care programme in the constituency.
She also upgraded and fully equipped a standard sickle cell clinic at the General hospital.
Addressing the crowd of riverine dwellers who gathered to access the free medical service, she said, “Whatever we are doing here does not have any political inclination.
“It is no news that some persons have been insinuating that the free medical care is born out of political aspirations.
“We want to make your lives easier and lighter because it is the will of God for you, not because we want to benefit any favour from you.
“Everyone has a purpose for which he was created and we must all live to please God by fulfilling that purpose.
“We recognize that the position we occupy as first citizens of Delta state is a privilege birthed out of purpose and we must live our lives according to that purpose.
“We are not the best but we understand that we are accountable to the one who chose us in His mercy.”
Dame Okowa used the opportunity to charge the people to live their lives as seeds especially when relating with other people.
While commissioning the sickle cell clinic in the hospital premises, she charged the hospital management to ensure that the facility is properly maintained.
She extended her appreciation to the Burutu local government chairman, Godknows Angele, for partnering with the O5 Initiative to impact lives.
The state commissioner for health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, represented by his permanent secretary Dr. Ejiro Ogheneaga affirmed that the ministry was prepared to support the initiative’s drive at impacting lives.
In his remarks, Hon Angele affirmed that the people had evidently benefited from the activities of the O5 Initiative.
One of the beneficiaries in 2018, 80 year old Pa Nelson Iyakonbogha testified that his two eyes were operated on in the last outreach and that four years after, his eyes have become clearer.
With the flag off of the outreach, the Coordinator of Restore Sight Africa Initiative, Dr Ernest Ogbedo said the team had been prepared to deliver to as many individuals as come around for the care within the next five days.
