By Don Peter Okoro
There was an outpouring of love and gratitude for Chief Lady Vera Irunwa Ikokwu, the President/Founder of Heavenly Elderly Charity Arena (HECHARENA) Foundation at Oraifite, Ekwusigo LGA of Anambra State, on Wednesday, the 18th of December, 2024, when the Foundation sponsored a free medical outreach under the auspices of Anambra State Association Worldwide.
The indigenes of Oraifite and environs who benefitted from the free medical outreach poured out their love and blessings for the sponsor and wished her long life and more prosperity. Medical personnels from the United States of America and NAUTH were on ground to attend to the patients.
In her comments, the Founder/President of the Foundation said:”HECHARENA medical outreach is the sponsor of this free medical outreach in Oraifite. HECHARENA is a non-profit, charitable organization that is out to help vulnerable communities and elderlies. That is why we are here in Oraifite to give them free medical outreach.
“This program is for everyone, not just the elderlies, because we don’t want anyone to be sick in Oraifite during this festive period. We have also gone to Okija to give them free educational support at St. John’s Primary School. We also went to an orphanage to give them our benevolence support.”
On her assessment of the program, she replied: “I’m very glad. We had enough turnout and all the citizens of Oraifite are very happy. I pray that God will continue to sustain them. God is the healer of all ailments. We have done what we can as human beings, it’s up to them to take precautions so that they can live healthy lives.”
The former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon. Bridget Obi said she came to support the founder and that the program is not something that can be quantified in words. She commended the quality of doctors that came from the U.S. and Nigeria, pointing out that bringing such a program to a community is not a child’s play.
She called on other wealthy sons and daughters of the community to take the outreach further and get the patients registered with the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme. In his comments, the Executive Director of HECHARENA Foundation, Prince Udeh Ubaka, Uba Victor, Eze Kum, stated that: “This free medical outreach is a well-articulated initiative of HECHARENA Foundation.
The Founder/President, Chief Lady Vera Irunwa Ikokwu, is a benevolent woman of immense compassion. She deemed it fit to extend her hands of kindness, not just to the elderlies this time but to all the sick and vulnerable members of the community. This is very commendable and praiseworthy.
The gesture will remain indelible in the hearts of the people of Oraifite.” Also speaking, Ichie Nzedike Oraifite, who is the Chairman of IGWE in COUNCIL of Oraifite, Prince Chinedu Nsofor offered:”This is a Social Responsibility which is very commendable. The turnout is very encouraging. There were so many doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and medical personnels and they are well packaged. Even Dr. N. Anakwenze, the Onowu of Abagana, was here live. I want HECHARENA to go from strength to strength.”
In her comments, the President of Oraifite Improvement Union (OIU), Women Wing, Lady Ijeoma Esione, expressed her profound gratitude to Chief Lady Vera Ikokwu for the initiative. She stated that the people of Oraifite will remember this good work for a long time to come. He prayed that God would continue to bless and protect her in all her doings. Lady Esione equally called on other well-meaning and wealthy individuals within and outside Oraifite to rise up to the occasion of lending a helping hand to the weak and vulnerable members of the community.
The representative of the PG of Oraifite, Elder Alex Muomah, who is the PG3, said he is overwhelmed with joy and prayed that God will continue to bless Chief Lady Vera Ikokwu for her kind gestures. He wished everyone a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. The Secretary General of ASA Worldwide Hon. Chudi Asidianya, who is also the President/CEO of Idea Banker & Professional Development International Inc. was on the ground to stream the event live on the Internet.