For the seventh time since 2015, the wife of the Delta state governor and founder, 05 Initiative, Dame Edith Okowa, on Tuesday reached out to the five correctional centers in the state with medications.
Dame Okowa, while presenting the medical items to the Comptroller of the State Command, Ovie Ebezobor, said it was part of the Initiative’s programme to reach out to the helpless in the correctional centres.
“Through our visits to the correctional centres to distribute food items and to share the gospel, we discovered that most of the inmates were not looking healthy and that formed the basis for our decision to reach out with medications through the State Drug Revolving Fund”, she said.
The wife of the governor further explained that the medications being handed over were to be shared among the five correctional centres in the state, according to the number of inmates in each centre.
Dame Okowa, extended her appreciation to the state Ministry of Health, headed by the commissioner, Dr. Mordi Ononye, for making provision for face masks, hand sanitizers and thermometers to go along with the drugs being distributed.
On his part, Ononye noted that the 05 Initiative had been one of the strongest stakeholders in the health sector, it has continued to drive health programmes in the state.
“The O5 Initiative has made the work of ensuring quality health care for all Deltans easier for the ministry and we assure that as a ministry, we will continue to give our support to the Initiative”, he said.
The State Controller, receiving the items, extended his appreciation to the wife of the governor on behalf of the Comptroller General of correctional centres Jafaru Ahmed.
“Even before I became the Controller in the state, I had heard so much about Dame Okowa and I can only say that she is nothing short of being a true mother of the less privileged.
“I pray that God would continue to enhance the 05 Initiative and we promise our commitment to quality service to ensure that peace reigns in the state, as much as lies within our capacity”, he promised.
The event which held in the office of Her Excellency in Government House, Asaba also witnessed the presence of the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Community Development, Mrs Flora Alantan and her Permanent Secretary and DG 05 Initiative, Mrs Oghenekevwe Agas.
Also present was the commissioner for Technical Education, Mrs Gbugbemi Ikolo, State PDP Women Leader, Mrs Kawulia Omoko, amongst others.
The gesture was first carried out on October 13, 2015; then November 3, 2016, December 19, 2017, December 21, 2918 and December 2019. This is the seventh edition of the initiative by the governor’s wife.