NGO offsets hospital bills of 14 indigent patients in Ebonyi
By Chinwedu Ukah
A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) known as Divine Care Global Community Initiative, Friday, has paid the hospital bills of not less than fourteen (14) indigent patients in Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, AE-FUTHA.
The National Coordinator of the organization, Dandy Determinant Odii, stated this during the presentation of the draft representing the amount of money of the discharged patients by the organization to the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Emeka Onwe Ogah.
Odii said, it cost the organization a sum of nine hundred and fifty thousand, one hundred and three Naira (N959,103) to offset the hospital bills of the patients, with the assistance of the hospital management which waved out 20 per cent of the total money as a way of demonstrating its magnanimity in delivering quality services to the humanity.
He appreciated the hospital management especially the members of the organization for their tireless efforts and contributions to ensure that the health and pride of the indigent persons are given much regard in the society.
He recalled that the organization began to embark on such humanitarian public outing starting from 2006, and some occasion, in his words, moved to both public and private hospitals to offset the bills of the under-privileged individuals.
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The National Coordinator commended the efforts of various media organizations, whom he said, their partnership with them, widely created awareness for people to begin to know that a lot of patients have been stranded in the hospitals as they could not clear up their bills.
Stating “Divine care global community initiative is a team, an NGO that provides care and succor to the under privileged in the society.for the past seventeen years,we have collaborated with the federal teaching hospital in releasing indigent patients in this hospital.
“We have come to do a similar thing today since we’re still in the business of providing care and succor.that is why we are here.
“Mr Richard Eze Anya who has led all our friends in divine care global community initiative to make this program possible.to present the draft representing the amount that we discharged the t patients.
“The amount was (959,103)nine hundred and fifty nine thousand,one hundred and three naira.but the hospital in their wisdom and magnanimity has decided to wave 20% of the money thereby reducing it to (767,300) seven hundred and sixty seven thousand,three hundred naira” he said.
While he assured the general public of the continuous intervention of the organization in giving succour to the downtrodden, Odii urged the well privileged individuals and groups to join in saving the lives of the indigent patients in the society, as according to him, ‘alot of people still require help in different hospitals and outside hospitals.’
Some of the beneficiaries
Responding, the Chief Medical Director of AE-FUTHA, Dr Emeka Onwe Ogah, thanked the organization for the gesture. and noted that the NGO has been partnering with the hospital starting from when the institution was still under Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital.
Ogah however, urged well placed people and other groups in the society to emulate the organization by rendering services which no reward should be expected directly from the beneficiaries.
He equally commended Governor David Umahi’s led administration for having cleared the bills of the indigent patients in the hospital and thus, pledged unending quality health care service and delivery in the institution.
Some of the beneficiaries including Fidela Itumo, Lazarus Oshim, Opa Joy, Judith Sandra Ani, Grace Uchendu, among others expressed happiness over the gesture and prayed God to bless the members of the organization in many folds.
Recall that the National Coordinator, Mr Dandy Determinant Odii, along with the Deputy National Director, Mr Richard Eze Anya led the team of the organization in the company of Dr Mrs Mary Chisoro Otu – the Head of Department, Social Welfare of AE-FUTHA during the occasion.
Some of the beneficiaries
