By Praise Chinecherem
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor has cleared outstanding bills of some patients at the male and female surgical wards of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH) Amaku, Awka, Anambra State.
The bishop also presented them with gifts during his visit to the hospital as part of activities lined up for the celebration of his seventieth birthday anniversary.
Speaking shortly after seeing the patients one on one, Ezeokafor commended the health workers who took care of the patients, reminding them that their work is a vocation as it is not easy to look after the sick, adding that their services require patience, commitment and love.
“It is necessary we showered them some love by praying and offsetting bills of some patients who found it difficult to leave after accessing medical care,” he said.
He noted that God has been faithful to him by keeping him healthy to attain 70 years and 15 years of his episcopacy, encouraging the patients to be hopeful of their speedy recovery with their medications and prayers.
Responding, Chief Medical Director, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Amaku Awka, Dr Joe Akabuike, thanked Bishop Ezeokafor for the bold step taken to care and show love to the sick.
He regretted that many spend so much money on burial ceremonies forgetting about the living, calling on the affluent in the society to emulate the Bishop’s gesture by helping to offset the bills of the poor.
Responding, Mrs Damatu Ahmed from Adamawa State and a 19-year-old Dennis Obayi from Benue State with spinal cord injury, thanked the Bishop Ezeokafor for his benevolence in ensuring they go home after the hospital treatment, praying God to bless him more on his birthday and beyond.
