Esther Oluku
Residents and intending mothers in Eluama community , Isuikwuato area of Abia State, can now procreate with zero worries on how to pay hospital bills following the announcement of free delivery in its maternity cottage hospital.
Announcing the project during her annual free medical treatment at Umuebereaja Health Centre, retired and founder of Mercy Foundation Medical Outreach, Rev. Ebere Okeh, said the newly born babies will also be provided with nappies and clothes.
“I realized that our women travel very far in search of medical treatment when they are pregnant. We lost some due to our proximity to those options. Mercy Foundation, which was established 10 years ago, has been organizing free medical events for the community, and last December, I decided to use the much God has given me in my lifetime to help those in need.
Mercy Foundation Medical Outreach has decided to add to its portfolio free delivery services for pregnant mothers, which will be operational at the center as of January 2024.
The foundation would foot the bill for registration and delivery charges for pregnant mothers at Umuebereaja Health Center in 2024.”
According to Rev. Ebere, the foundation will pay the cost of antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care, as well as newborn clothes and food for the mother. ” At the age of 73, God has been kind to me and my family.
“I am blessed with family and friends who will ensure that foundation and its beliefs will be sustained in my honor.”
As of press time, eight pregnant women had successfully given birth under the free delivery scheme. They are Favour Okpu, Ndidi Madukwe, Onyenaturu Udoh, Chinenye Igbo, Marvelous Onyeukwu, Nkechi Chukwuemeka, Blessing Kanu, and Peace Godfrey.
Also, within the same period, a total of 13 pregnant women have been registered for antenatal care at the center.
Also, Rev. (Mrs.) Ebere Okeh used the opportunity to present to the center some maternal items geared towards improvement in maternal health, donated by Mrs. Nwadiuto Okeh, based in the US.
In their separate speeches, Mr. Nduka Ononogbu and Deacon Sunday Ogor, who represented the community union, lauded the decision of Rev. (Mrs.) Ebere Okeh in her visionary journey aimed at improving the life and welfare standards of our people.
They called on other well-meaning individuals and groups to rise to the occasion by assisting the health center in its mandate to deliver quality healthcare services to our people.
Mr. Ononogbu said, “Our people need to be sensitized in order to take advantage of these on-going free services for pregnant mothers at our facility.”
Also, Deacon Sunday Ogor reiterated the commitment of the community to the health center and promised to provide some herbicides for use at the center in addition to addressing the water reticulation and toilet blockage challenges at the facility.
Excited, the first recipient, Favor Mattew Okpu, said, “It was a miracle because I never knew about the program until I landed here. I had an emergency, and I was rushed to the clinic, where I delivered soundly. God helped me. I was waiting to collect my bill when the midwife told me that it was free. They also gave me plenty of pampers and clothes for my baby. May God bless them for me.”
