By: Ike Philip Abiagom
Pastor Idowu Okeze knows that when Ibusa Community honestly ask themselves which persons in their lives means the most to them, they often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have rather chosen to share people’s pain and touch their wounds with a warm and tender hand. let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be gotten, but they need hearts to love them”. So, spread your love everywhere you go.
One thousand indigents and vulnerable people in Ibusa,Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State on Monday heaved a sign of relief, especially in caring for their health, following the payment of health insurance premium worth N7 million for them by Pastor Idowu Okeze. The program which was flagged off on Monday 9th December,2024, by the Chairman of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission,Dr Austin Obidi, registered 1000 persons which was sponsored by an illustrious Ibusa born philanthropist, Pastor Idowu Okeze.
Dr Obidi while unveiling the programme, commended the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for being the brain behind the efficiency and effectiveness of the scheme.He said the Governor had promised to do more for Deltans in his policies and programmes, and one of the areas he has eminently focused on, is the health sector, especially with high regards to the health insurance scheme.
The highbrow medical administrator went further to praise the philanthropic gestures of Pastor Idowu Okeze who volunteered to sponsor the enrollment of 1000 indigent and vulnerable Ibusa indigenes into the informal sector category of the scheme by paying #7000 (Seven Thousand Naira Only) per person,for 1000 persons in Ibusa.
According to him, “The 1000 persons have been registered and given cards to access health care for the next one year, free of charge. This is the first of its kind where indigent enrollees who are vulnerable are adopted by a philanthropist with passion to save life.
“The government of Delta State has done noble since the inception of the health insurance scheme in the State. For every woman that delivers a baby in government hospital, it is free; same as children under five undergoing any form of medical treatment.
“So far, the Contributory Health Insurance Scheme stands at 1.8 million enrollees. This initiative is to support the efforts of government in covering the vast majority of Deltans in the scheme. We want to see how we can double the number in no distant time. And it is the responsibility of everyone who is well to do, to sponsor two or more persons according to their abilities, as enrollees in the scheme”, Obidi posited.
In an interview, with a community elder of Ibusa Community, Abuah Nwaokocha commended the sponsor of the programme who is an illustrious son of Ibusa, for taking up such Godly initiative to cushion the effect of inaccessibility of health care services amongst his people. He said the end result of Pastor Okeze’s gesture would be monumental when measured in monetary terms, thereby urging the vulnerable beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity.
Nwaokocha further called on well-to-do sons and daughters of Ibusa to emulate the humanitarian character of Pastor Okeze by keying into the initiative to cover more people in the scheme, for the purpose of accessing cheap and affordable health care services.
Speaking to Pastor Idowu Okeze, he said he did what he did with regards to a scriptural injunction which says “it’s good to do good”.
He affirmed that he only provided the sponsorship of 1000 enrollees with specifics of what he wanted, while it was the community that did the selection of beneficiaries.
His words, “It is good to do good with every assistance one can render to the needy. I saw the need to be of help, and I provided the opportunity for the vulnerable elders, widows and physically challenged persons in my community to benefit.
“This is a good scheme, designed to help the ordinary people access adequate and affordable health care services. The government has done well with this scheme and of course, the initiative of getting privileged individuals involved. It’s important to get as much individuals as possible, to enroll into the scheme. And of course, the big people have to support the programme by sponsoring persons who are less privileged.
“My advice to the beneficiaries as well, is to take the advantage and make good use of it in their own interest”, Okeze advised.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to Newsbreeze prayed for more favour on Pastor Okeze in all his life’s endeavours.
Mama Ifeoma Okonji commended Pastor Idowu Okeze for being such a Godsent at this critical time that healthcare services have become so expensive,she affirmed that Pastor Okeze had always shown kindness to his people and prayed that God rewards him. It was a worthwhile initiative, geared towards making a people healthy in order to capacitate them to contribute meaningfully to the development of their society in sound mind.
Pastor Idowu Okeze is a great pillar to Ibusa Community,He is a notable philanthropist whose humanitarian acts and deeds have brought considerable succour to many. He is a blessing to this generation, his passion for human capital development is unparalleled.God will continue to bless him