Onitsha Catholic Archbishop Pays Hospital Bills Of 13 Patients

By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha

The Archbishop of Onitsha and Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace Most, Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke, has reportedly paid hospital bills of 13 patients, worth millions of naira, as part of the activities lined up to mark his 70th birthday that took place on October 20, 2020.

According to the Chancellor of Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Prudentus Emeka, the Prelate would in no distant time feed about 2,300 indigents and less privileged ones both Catholics, Anglican, Pentecostal, Pagans and Muslims across Onitsha region.

It was gathered that the benefitted patients included, four from Iyi-Enu Hospital Ogidi, (Diocese on the Niger Anglican communion) , four patients from St. Charles Borromeo Specialists Hospital, Onitsha, and five from Federal Medical Center Onitsha.

Praying for the patients, Archbishop Okeke reminded them that there is no sickness which God cannot cure, adding that since God could raise a dead person, He would as well cure sickness of any kind.

“Is any sick among you?. Let him call for the elders of the Church and let them pray over him ( James 5:14-16). May the almighty God forgive your sins and grant you people good health and quick recovery. I pray for you people to recover quickly and go back to your respective homes. Hospital is not a dwelling place” Archbishop Okeke prayed.

In their separate appreciations, the Hospital administrator, Iyi-Enu Hospital Ogidi, Canon Tochukwu Okwuchukwu, poured accolades to Archbishop Okeke and commended him for remembering patients in the hospital.

He hinted that sickness has no denomination, which according to him could inflict anybody, even as he wished Archbishop Okeke good health and long life on his birthday.

Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital, Onitsha, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Izunna Okonkwo, also praised Archbishop Okeke for his care to humanity and prayed God to bless him abundantly.

The Medical Director, General Hospital Onitsha, now Federal Medical Center Onitsha, Dr. Eberechukwu Anugwu, had in his commendation to the Archbishop, said that she was grateful to the Archbishop Okeke for remembering patients in the hospital.

In 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.

Others are 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