Nigerian medical
practitioners in the Americas have appealed to wealthy and more privileged
Nigerians to rally to the needs of the poor in the society, especially in these
difficult times.
Making the call for a concerted intervention yesterday in
Enugu, the Women's Hat and Tea Forum of the Association of Nigerian Physicians
in the Americas (ANPA), during a visit to two motherless babies home also
charged corporates bodies, professional associations,
individuals “to give back to society without expecting that government
alone can do it all.”
As ANPA donated N150,000, a water tank, baby food items to
the Nigerian Red Cross Motherless Babies Home and a water tank to the Catholic
Church run Holy Child Motherless Babies Home, in Enugu, the newly elected
first female president of ANPA, Dr. Charmaine Emelife-Ukabam, said
that, “we are privileged to have to do this. With the situation of things
here, we realize that we have indeed come to where there is indeed need. Our
children, at all times deserve the best in whatever home they find themselves.”
She pleaded that Nigerians should not use the present harsh
economic climate as an excuse to stifle their benevolence but should always
relive the call to be “our brothers keeper. Admittedly, this calls
for sacrifices, but we must realize that if the prevailing economy makes it
difficult for us, it only makes it more difficult for them. Every sacrifice
will be an investment on the future of the children. By starting with the
children, and the mothers, ANPA feels it is starting at the roots.”
Accompanied by other members of the association,
Emelife-Ukabam, an Atlanta based nephrologist, explained that taking care of
the needs of the children is a better way way of ensuring the survival and
continuity of a healthier society.
“If our children can grow up healthy, then they can have
healthier minds, embrace healthy attitudes, which is a cornerstone of a
healthier Nigeria in a healthy world. This is our mission,” she said.
Reverend Sister Mary Victoria Uzokwe of the Holy Child
Motherless Home, observed that since the down turn in the economy, “people
don't bring things to us again like in the past; everyone is complaining. We
need more things, especially water. We can't have a borehole because of coal.
People donate water tankers to us like you have done.”
The secretary of the Nigeria Red Cross Motherless Babies
Home, Hon. Tony Udegbu admitted that the home, which was established
after the civil war, has fallen on hard times but has stayed
afloat “through the dedication and passion of its volunteer staff and good
spirited individuals. We can certainly do with more support and charity.”
Emelife-Ukabam promised that ANPA will look at how to make
more interventions in future, especially in response to the litany of needs of
the homes as she charged the facilitators of the homes not to betray the trust
of the public by ensuring that the items donated by members of the public are
put in good use.
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