In fulfilment of his promise during his last pastoral visit to St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish Ngugo Obaire, Ikeduru Local Government Area, Imo State, the Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev Anthony J.V.Obinna has donated laboratory equipment to Mission Hospital, Ngugo. The equipment which include biological microscope, laboratory incubator, autoclave, genotype machine, microhaematocrit centrifuge and reader, centrifuge bucket, refrigerator and others, all brand new, were received by the Hospital Director, Rev Fr. Chimaraoke Offurum last week. With these equipment, the facility can now run microbiology, haematology and other chemistry tests.

In making the donation, the Prelate lamented the failure of governments at different levels towards supporting non-governmental initiatives at the grassroots and pointed out that in developed countries and developing nations and states and even in neighbouring Igbo states like Anambra, supporting grants in aid and subventions are routinely given to non-governmental organizations like the missions to support their services in providing good and qualitative education and health facilities. This was because, he noted, the people who attend these schools and seek for health services are bona fide citizens of either the state or the country worthy of government’s attention. He therefore urged the governments to accommodate the supports in their budgets.

Blessing the equipments and commissioning them for use at the hospital premises on Friday, 7th March, 2014, the Episcopal Vicar of Uzoagba Zone V, Very Rev. Fr. Reginald Egbu appreciated the thoughtfulness of Archbishop Obinna in making the donation which stands to boost the only major hospital in the whole of Ikeduru L.G.A. He recalled that the hospital had served the health needs of people around there over the years, pointing out that many prominent sons and daughters of Ikeduru were born there. He regretted that at some point the hospital had suffered serious setback due to communal crisis but expressed satisfaction that the different organs that constitute the facility have been greatly revived. He prayed that the entire equipment be put into judicious use so as to achieve the aims for which they were given and further encouraged the people of the area to patronize the hospital which has a resident doctor and other staff on ground.

The occasion was equally used to formally open the mortuary initiated at the onset of the hospital but re-foundationed and completed by the current administration in place at the hospital.

Expressing his heart’s content at the development, the Director of the hospital, Fr. Offurum said that even though the interest of the Church in taking over the facility was not to make profit that he is satisfied all efforts to revive the ailing hospital have not been in vain as it can stand on its footing if patronized by the people. He thanked His Grace, the Archbishop for his faithfulness and support over the years as well as the Director of Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku, Rev. Fr. Dr. Eunan Asomugha, the Parish Priest of St. Zenone Parish, Gallarate Italy, Don Gugliemo Tosoni and his parishioners, Mr. Vittorino Budelli and family, other numerous friends and well wishers of the hospital including staff, past and present, for their encouragement and support praying that God may graciously reward and bless everyone.

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