ON Friday, March 8, the Adeoyo Hospital at Yemetu, Ibadan, Oyo State was bustling with patients and health workers.
Inside the premises was a young pregnant woman who had been referred to the hospital; she was already in labour and had been initially attended to by nurses on duty. However, the woman couldn’t afford the money for the hospital card, while her baby items were not complete.
Members of her family stood with her, making frantic calls maybe they could raise some money and the fact that she had been in labour for a long time meant she needed to be attended to very fast, and possibly through caesarean section.
While her family members looked dejected, trying to see who could assist in raising the money for her delivery, members of the Dr Abbey Akinoshun Foundation (DAAF) came into the hospital for their periodic support to indigent patients.
What made this visit different this time is that the founder, Dr Abbey Akinoshun, personally led the team. He had arrived in the country a few days earlier from his United Kingdom base and was personally going round places where the foundation supports.
On noticing the presence of the team, a nurse quickly brought the case of the pregnant woman to the hearing of Dr Akinoshun, who demanded the financial implications of supporting the woman.
The chief matron of the hospital, Mrs Abimbola Adeniyi, quickly made an estimate and Dr Akinoshun made a donation of N200,000 for the woman to be attended to.
The woman, as heavy as she was, was shocked by the donation and wanted to kneel to thank Dr Akinoshun, but he restrained her.
Her family members were also so happy, just as they appreciated the DAAF founder for the gesture.
One of them had quipped that if that help had not come, only God knows what would have happened to the pregnant woman who was already feeling the pains of labour.
The DAAF founder then prayed for the successful delivery of the woman.
Dr Akinoshun also toured other sections of the hospital and donated N50,000 to a woman whose child was sick.
He made another N45,000 to another woman who had just been delivered of a baby through caesarean section, while two further operations were performed on her after she suffered an infection.
A woman whose one-year-old child suffered burns after he dipped his hand inside a hot pot of soup was also supported with N50,000.
While speaking at the hospital, Dr Akinoshun said the DAAF team frequently visits the hospital to support indigent people with their medical bills.
He said he knows the government cannot do everything alone and that is why he is also contributing his quota to the development of the country.
“We do this frequently, but I am personally doing this today [Friday} because I am in the country.
“I hope those who are well-to-do in the society can also assist the needy because people need all the support they can get.”
The matron, Mrs Adeniyi, thanked Dr Akinoshun and the DAAF team for their support for underprivileged people.
She said the DAAF team members belong to that special category of Nigerians who have taken it upon themselves to assist the underprivileged in the society.
“Many individuals and organisations, just like DAAF, come here to support those who find it hard to pay their medical bills.
“Some also donate food items to patients to aid their recovery process; all these go a long way in assisting the government in the area of health.
“I thank DAAF for the donations; I know those who benefited from the gestures never expected this and you are a God-sent to them,” the matron said.
Earlier, members of DAAF had visited two orphanages where they donated food items and cash to inmates.
Dr Akinoshun, at the Dorcas Adunola Oyediji Motherless Babies Home, said DAAF would continue to work to support the needy in the society.
“We are here to see the children we have been supporting and also donate some food items to them.
“I know these food items will go a long way in assisting the children maintain their nutritional requirements for their development,” Dr Akinoshun said, just as he thanked members of staff of the orphanages for taking care of the children who he described as leaders of tomorrow.
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