As show of love to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Catholic bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor has paid over N1 million hospital bills for poor patients at Regina Caeli Hospital, Awka.
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.
During the tour of the facilities , the Prelate observed that some patients were still at the hospital owing to lack of finance to pay their bills .
Touched by their plight, Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor reached out to the Manager of the hospital, Rev Fr. Innocent Affusim and asked him to prepare their bills at his expense.
Some of the beneficiaries are Mr Chijioke Nwoye Peter, an accident victim from Nteje in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State whose bill of 287,000 was settled, Mr Kenneth Onah, an accident victim from Nsukka , Enugu State with a bill of 443,000 and Mr Ifeanyi Nebe, an accident victim from Ogbunka in Orumba South with a bill of 380,000 Naira, among others.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Onah said they would be forever grateful to Bishop Ezeokafor for his kind gesture and humane spirit.
Earlier in a homily, the he 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.
Bishop Ezeokafor called on 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.
Among those who accompanied him on the visit were 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.
