Jubilation as Archbishop Okeke visits Iyienu, FMC, Borromeo hospitals, prays for the sick, pay hospital bills for patients

..As he marks 70th Birthday

By Uzo Ugwunze

It was jubilations all over as patients of the hospitals visited by the Archbishop of Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese, His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke recieved prayers while some others who had earlier been discharged but could not pay their hospital bills had their hospital bills paid as part of the activities marking the Archbishop’s 70 years birthday anniversary continues.

Some of the hospitals he visited include Iyienu Mission Hospital, Ogidi of the Anglican Communion, Diocese on the Niger, St. Charles Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha of the Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese and the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Onitsha of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Among the Archbishop Okeke’s entourage during the visit included; Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese Chancellor, Very Rev Fr.. Dr. Prudentus Emeka Aroh, Vice Chancellor and Health services coordinator of Onitsha Archdiocese, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Basil Ekwunife, Vicar General Onitsha Archdiocese, Very Rev. Fr. Johnbosco Okafor, Onitsha Archdiocese financial controller, Rev. Fr. Philip Ibeneme, Onitsha Archdiocesan director of communication Rev. Fr. Dr. George Adimike, Director of CWO Onitsha Archdiocese, Lady Ngozi Nwanosike amongst others.

They prayed for the patients and doled out millions of naira cash for the settlement of the hospital bills of 13 persons. The patients also sang happy birthday renditions for the Archbishop and prayed God to give him long life and good health.

The Archbishop’s entourage firstly visited Iyienu Mission Hospital (IMH) where after moving round the wards and praying for all the patients, he paid the hospital bills for four of them who had been discharged and their bills ran into hundreds of thousands of naira which they could not pay being discharged.

Receiving the Archbishop and his entourage, the Iyienu Mission Hospital Administrator, Rev Canon Tochukwu Okwuchukwu who excited about the kind gesture thanked the prelate for such an ecumenical initiative saying that sickness does not recognize denomination.

At St. Charles Borromeo hospital where he also moved round the wards and prayed for the patients, after which he handed over a cash worth over a million naira to the hospital CEO, Rev Fr Dr. Izunna Okonkwo as settlement of medical bills for about four patients.

Dr Okonkwo thanked the Archbishop for for the unscheduled visit saying that his prayers will expedite speedy recovery of many patients in the hospital.

His last port of call was the Onitsha General hospital where he also prayed for them in their various wards and paid the bills worth close to a million naira for another five patients who could not offset their bills after being discharged.

Receiving the archbishop’s entourage the Chief Consultant, Dr Ebele Anugwu was so happy to welcome the prelate wishing God to reward him for his generousity.

Earlier , on October 20, 2023 the Archbishop began his 70years birthday celebrated with the inmates at the Federal Correctional centre Onitsha during which he presented food items and other materials to the inmates.

Also the Chancellor of Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Prudentus Emeka Aroh, revealed that the Archbishop has scheduled to feed about 2,300 indigents persons across Onitsha region irrespective of their different denominations and religious backgrounds.

“Among the beneficiaries at St Charles Borromeo hospital include a 7 year old boy accident victim, a fire accident victim and a patient who was discharged since 13th August, 2023 after a medical surgery,” said Rev. Fr. Aroh.

The 13 patients who benefited from the Millions of Naira paid at the different Hospitals which included, 4 patients from Iyienu Mission Hospital,Ogidi, 4 patients from St. Charles Borromeo Specialists Hospital, Onitsha, and 5 patients from Federal Medical Center, Onitsha names withheld all thanked God and the Archbishop for setting them free of the hospital prison saying they can now rejoin with their families once again after battling with illness.