By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
As part of his charitable undertakings, the Catholic bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor on Monday, 20th December 2021, visited Regina Caeli Hospital, Awka, where he paid the hospital bills of poor patients running into a million Naira.
Bishop Ezeokafor who was at the hospital to commission projects like the newly refurbished Labour room, newly built state-of-the-art funeral home and entrance gate as well as the newly reconstructed Reverend Sisters' Convent took his time to inspect the facilities and wards at the hospital.
The Charismatic and influential Prelate who undertook such unscheduled expenses while going round the wards said that he discovered that there were patients who have overstayed their welcome in the hospital owing to lack of finance and was deeply touched by their cries for help.
The visibly sober and compassionate bishop on seeing the hapless patients quickly reached out to the Manager of the hospital, Rev Fr. Innocent Affusim and asked him to prepare their bills at his expense, adding that he would clear all debts owed by the patients.
The bills, Fides gathered was over a million Naira. Breakdown of the bills are as follows: Mr Chijioke Nwoye Peter, an accident victim from Nteje in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State - 287000; Mr Kenneth Onah, an accident victim from Nsukka , Enugu State -443000 and Mr Ifeanyi Nebe, an accident victim from Ogbunka in Orumba South - 380,000 Naira, among other life enhancing assistance rendered by the bishop.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Onah said they would be forever grateful to Bishop Ezeokafor for his kind gesture and humane spirit, acknowledging that they were indeed lucky to had crossed Bishop Ezeokafor's path.
Earlier in a homily, the Local Ordinary described Regina Caeli Hospital as one of the apostolate of the diocese, saying that it was built to cater for the sick people and not necessarily for profit making, even as he said that the doctors and nurses, Management and staff were being paid from the proceeds made from the services rendered.
The outspoken Cleric called on the public spirited individuals to assist the hospital financially and materially, stating that without donations and supports there was nowhere the hospital would attain its full potentials.
Those who accompanied the bishop to the visit included the Chancellor, Catholic Diocese of Awka, Very Rev Fr Dr Francis Chidume ; the Director of Social Communications and Director of Fides Media, Rev Fr Dr Martin Anusi, the Mother General of the Daughters of Divine Love (DDL), Rev Mother Mary Anastasia Dike, the Chief Medical Director of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, Dr Joe Akabuike, among others.