It is obvious that the provision of basic social amenities to the citizenry especially at the grassroots lay on the shoulders of government at all levels, but paucity of funds and competing demands more often than not hinder the government. However, a non governmental organisation took up the challenge. OYIBO SALIHU reports.
How the journey started
As part of effort to enhance the health status of Ihima community in Okehi local government area of Kogi state, a non governmental organisation, Ihima Elite Initiative (IEI) has continued its annual routine free medical outreach programme to provide free quality medical service to the community.The programme is designed to give a token back to the society.In the last year edition, the event went beyond regular free treatment of the people.
Additional project
The addition, according to the group, is to erect a multipurpose building in order to address the dearth of social amenities in Ihima. Speaking at the occasion, IEI president, Yusuf Obosi disclosed that the building would house Information Communication Technology (ICT), a library, an eye clinic, a 330-capacity multi purpose hall, an ATM gallery, rooms for lodging, accommodation and offices that are intended to support the socio-economic development of Ihima.Apparently, the project is daring, but the hindrance is where the resources would come from given the fact that the free medical outreach programmes come from willful donation from IEI members.Interestingly, the members are undaunted as they count on relationships and reciprocity of good will from friends of Ihima. According to the group, they trust that the government of Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello as a fellow Ebira and the governor of the state would come to their rescue and lessen the burden of delivering the project to the community.In addition, IEI president speaking on behalf of the town said, “As you can see, we have started work on the building though at the foundation level.”The total estimated cost of the project is two hundred and thirteen million naira (N213, 000,000,00). At this juncture, I wish to formally appeal to all of you to donate generously towards the completion of this project. Your donation could be in cash, building materials or mechanical and electrical fittings.”
Special guests at event
Present at the groundbreaking and launch was a known Ebira philanthropist and Ihima friend, an Abuja based Alhaji Sanusi Abubakar.Commending the painstaking effort of IEI, Abubakar described Ihima as a very large community in every sense of the word. He remembered with nostalgia his good old days with school mates, teachers, Ihima community people as a young boy and student in the old and famous Ihima Community Secondary School.”I am part and parcel of Ihima- the bad, the good and the ugly. Ihima is a large community in every sense of the word. We, the other Ebira admire Ihima for her reputation and common purpose – unity.He launched the project with the sum of two million (2,000,000,00) naira with a promise to work closely with his IEI friends with a view to helping them to make necessary contacts with well meaning friends and other Nigerians to raise the funds and complete the project. Also, Sheikh Khalif Abdulrahaman-Okene, politician and Senatorial aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last election graced the occasion and donated the sum of One million (1,000,000,00) towards the building of the multipurpose house.Architect Abdulmumuni Okara, the special adviser to Governor Bello on agriculture, pledged to donate the sum of 200, 000 naira towards the building with a promise also to make contacts with people of financial resources to assist the project.Former deputy governor of the state, an illustrious Ihima son, Dr Phillips Salawu could not make it to the 3rd Ihima medical outreach and launch, but was ably represented by Hon Johnson Aliu Enewo.He asked IEI to meet him, brief him on the progress made on the project for a financial way to be charted for the project. An extraordinary Ebira patriot and a man of enormous financial tentacles, Salawu’s word is his bond.The group therefore is aware that even if governments at all levels are willing to be alive to their responsibilities, they would still have been unable to solve all the problems that confront communities without some form of efforts by the community itself.The organisation was formed in 2016 and within a space of four years, it has tremendously helped a greater number of Ihima people and others neighbouring towns and villages to overcome the diseases that lack of money hindered them from taking to hospitals. Obviously, the patriots do not limit their help activities to health as it is being display in the multipurpose hall building.According to the information made available to newsmen by Obosi, IEI which was found primarily to promote all forms of development that would fast-track the return of the glory of Ihima and also to complement the effort of the government in all spheres of the community development, has rehabilitated Ihima street lights in 2018 and had a successful medical outreach.The president said also that in August 2019, the group staged a peace sensitisation programme and seminar aimed at keeping the community abreast with the times and their awareness. The group also visited with vehicle loads of palliatives to cushion the effect of Covid-19.
Speaking in similar vein, IEI leader of the outreach Professor Solomon Avidime from Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria said,”We thank God for this vision He has given us to serve our fatherland this way. “The gesture is an opportunity for us as members of IEI to give back to our community using our expertise and financial resources, In fact, the 2020 IEI medical outreach has served a total of 2,250 patients who are indigents but living with ailments for lack of access to healthcare and financial means.”Range of illnesses treated this last year (2020) included malaria fever, enteric (Typhoid), common cough, urinary track infection as well as pelvic Inflammatory diseases.”Patients with menstrual abnormalities and infertility were also treated. Pregnant women also had the benefit of receiving ante-natal care during the outreach,” he said.The professor added that non communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes were prevalent and majority of senior citizens, he added, had arthritis among other age-related diseases.
He also mentioned that while children and women, the young and the old were treated for free, drugs that could last the patients up to two to three months were also given out.It was also disclosed that plans were afoot to scale up the exercise in the next outing to include the treatment of diseases that require surgery.
Words of appreciation
Appreciating the Ihima Sons and daughters in IEI, Madam Mariam Usman, a beneficiary told Blueprint to use its veritable medium to call on Ihima politicians, business moguls and Kogi state government to support the vision for them to continue the the exercise.”What else can I say other than to pray for these children who have shown great concern for the plight we are going through as people. If good hospitals are here they would not have taken the trouble of doing this for us. It is not their responsibility to give us hospitals, God will be kind to them. “They will be going and coming in peace and never in pieces. For taking this pity on us and their fatherland, their children will know no plight and they will be greater in life,” she prayed. The Ohi of Ihima, HRH. Ahmed Abdulrahim Ogido as the Royal Father of the day found time to attend the occasion throughout its duration. In his remark, the paramount ruler said, “I thank the Almighty Allah for this day. My joys know no bound that Ihima is this blessed with people like members of IEI, people that remember their home, come rain or shine.
“I can only pray God to continue blessing them. They are simply working for humanity,” he acknowledged.
