Akpan Umoh, Uyo
Mrs Etop Okokon, a Registered Nurse based in the United States of America, has donated a well-equipped medical centre for widows and less privileged to the Apostolic Church in Oboetim Ikot Ekong in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom.
Okokon in her remarks during the official handing over of the medical centre to the church on Sunday said that though the centre was built to take care of widows, any member of the community, who has health challenges will be free to access the facilities.
Okokon, who is the President of African Heritage Women in Education and Empowerment, (AHWEE), said most of the activities of the organisation were geared towards improving the lives of widows and the vulnerable in rural communities.
“My mother had always inspired me to do the things that would improve the lives of widows and the less privileged.
“I could remember how she struggled to raise nine of us and raise us well. I decided to put up this facility in her name to help the less privileged in my community.
“The drugs here are given free of charge and the ones we may not be able to do, we refer. We have a consultant gynaecologist and three registered nurses.
“It is my wish to turn the healthcare centre into a full hospital in the near future. I always remember my church and these people praying for me, therefore I decided to impact their lives through this gesture,” Okokon said.
Earlier, Madam Affiong Inyang, the mother of the donor said that it was her heart’s desire to give back to the church through her children.
Inyang recounted how the elders of the Apostolic Church comforted and supported her during her struggling period as a widow, with nine children for many years.
“I am happy that the work has been done in my lifetime. We started our lives here in this church. When I was running up and down with difficulties of life, the elders held me and took care of us.
“When my children started doing well, I vowed that if God spares my life, I will never forget this church, I will continue to serve God in this place.
“My advice is that any widow who finds herself in any situation should hold onto God, for he will never fail,” she said.
In her remarks, the wife of the outgoing Governor of Akwa Ibom, Mrs Martha Emmanuel, commended the donor for her show of love and benevolence.
Emmanuel urged all well-meaning individuals in the community to emulate Mrs Etop Okokon and put smiles on the faces of the less privileged.