The Ebonyi State Government has commended a US-based humanitarian group, the Uplift Help Incorporated, for providing free healthcare for indigent people of the state especially children.
Dr Kelechi Igwe, the state Deputy Governor made the commendation on Thursday in Abakaliki while receiving the group’s delegation on a courtesy call.
Igwe said that the group was in the state for the seventh time to provide free health care services to the people, especially the poor.
“This is a patriotic and humanitarian mission, borne out of love for the people and not what you intend to benefit from the visit.
“You have touched, saved lives, given hope to the hopeless and done what parents, relatives and communities could not do for the people.
“We do not have the wherewithal to reward you for all you have done but rest assured that those you have saved especially, the children, are praying for you,” he said.
The deputy governor said that the group’s intervention in the state had complemented the government’s efforts in providing healthcare for the people.
“The state ministry of health will duly provide the facilities you will use for your interventions as we are not paying for your services,” he said.
He commended the former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Frank Ogbuewu, whose foundation collaborated with the American group in providing healthcare to the people.
“Ogbuewu, as a strong pillar in the state and chairman of the state’s elders’ council, has demonstrated a rare show of statesmanship by using his foreign connections to help his people,” he said.
Leader of the Uplift Help Incorporated, Mrs Kareen Schnider, thanked the state government for providing enabling environment for them to operate, pledging to continue providing health services to Ebonyi people.
“We have more than 200 health cases to attend and they mostly involve poor children who cannot afford the cost.
“We commend Frank (Ogbuewu) and family for providing accommodation and other logistics we need for our activities as their efforts are unquantifiable,” she said.
Ogbuewu, whose foundation, Erajon Educational and Health, collaborates with the American group, said that his foundation provided logistic support to latter.
Ogbuewu, who was also Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Greece, said that the state governor had seen evidence of the over 100 surgeries performed by the group during their past visits.
“This particular visit is a special intervention because the group usually visits the state in August or September.
“The group considered the number of cases it will handle and then decided to commence the intervention presently,” he said.