Imo State chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria in conjunction with Okwara Medical Foundation of the United States of America (USA) have paid the N1.3 million medical bills of three children at the Umuguma specialist hospital, Owerri.
Two of the teenagers: Wisdom Onyeulo (16 years) had underwent a major brain (Craniotomy) surgery while Miracle Chimamkpa (17 years) was operated for stomach (Lapractomy) surgery but were unable to pay the bills.
LEADERSHIP gathered that due to their inability to pay, they were detained in the hospital for three and five months respectively.
The caretaker committee chairperson of Imo FIDA, Barr. Ndidi Anike explained that the gesture was part of their mandate to cater for women and children especially the downtrodden.
Anike said they got involved during a visit to a minor, Chikamso Ekeocha, who was brutalised by her guardian for riding his children’s motorbike.
She said, “We are here for Chikamso Ekeocha, a girl that was brutally assaulted by her guardian about two weeks ago. When we came to intervene and see her, with the view of helping out with the prosecution, we also ran into these children, Chimamkpa Miracle who had multiple surgeries since April but couldn’t leave the hospital because she was owing bills and Wisdom Onyeulo who also had multiple brain surgeries and couldn’t also leave because he couldn’t settle the bill.
“We decided to intervene by meeting with the hospital authority and negotiated a 50 per cent discount which was approved, all thanks to Dr. Kaunda Ibebike, who is the CMD of the hospital and we had a generous donor, Dr. Benedict Okwara, owner and Medical Director of First Care Medical Clinic with seven locations across the states of North and South Carolina and founder, Okwara medical foundation.
“Through our combined efforts, these patients have been able to leave the hospital, having been discharged today, all bills settled and then given an extra stipend of M200,000 each to assist them in their education”.
She disclosed that the children have been placed on an education funding scheme in partnership with Dr Benedict Okwara, a United States based medical practitioner and an internal medicine specialist.
On their part, the beneficiaries and their relatives expressed gratitude for the gesture and thanked the people involved for their kindness.
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