From TCNEWS
As Nigeria joined the rest of countries across the globe to observe the World Day of the Sick 2024 with the theme “Healing Love: Witnessing to Compassion and Service”, a catholic faithful and President General of Ahuwa-Oboro autonomous community, Oboro clan in Ikwuano L.G.A, of Abia State, Chief James Nnadozie Uchegbuo has raised the alarm that Ahuwa-Oboro, one of the largest autonomous communities in Oboro ancient kingdom in Ikwuano with a population of about 3,500, has no primary healthcare centre.
Engr. James Nnadozie Uchegbuo.
Interacting with our correspondent in Umuahia, Uchegbuo, who is also a professional engineer, also called on the government to strengthen and equip the health care systems to deliver prevention services that keep people well and diagnose diseases early.
“The mortality rate in my community is increasing on a daily basis due to the lack of Primary healthcare centre in the entire community. We are calling on the Federal, State and the Ikwuano Council Mayor Chief Osinachi Nwaka, to come to our rescue to stop this avoidable deaths”, Uchegbuo passionately appealed.
The Ahuwa-Oboro President General further called on the government to make fund available for health research initiatives, publicize threats to health as well protective measures, enforce laws and standards related to health and safety and also make laws that protect the public’s overall health.
Uchegbuo who also called on the government to levy punishment on people or entities that risk the public’s health, reasoned that the main purpose of the Day is to alleviate patients’ pain and suffering and to draw public attention to improving the level of service provided to them.
He posited that the society would be witnessing compassion when people who are suffering from diseases are supported, hospitals visited, and preventive steps taken to protect health and promote a healthy lifestyle.
Moreover, he appreciated President Bola Tinubu’s administration on its strive to prioritize and improve Nigeria’s health sector through massive investments and the allocation of increased funds to the sector in the 2024 budget.
He also lauded Governor Alex Otti for not only expressing commitment to transforming the health sector to provide residents improved access to essential healthcare services but also expressing his government’s readiness to strengthen its healthcare system and overhaul the initiative for the betterment of the people.
Engr. Uchegbuo used the forum to call on private individuals, charity organizations, Faith based Organizations and Nongovernmental Organizations assist the government to provide free medical services to the indigent persons as World Day of the Sick was established to give hope to them.
February 11, World Day of the Sick created in 1992 by Pope John Paul II, is an awareness day, or observance, in the Catholic Church intended for “prayer and sharing, of offering one’s suffering for the good of the Church and of reminding everyone to see in his sick brother or sister the face of Christ”.
Healing the Sick by Healing Relationships” is the theme of the message of Pope Francis for the 2024 World Day of the Sick.