By Eseoghene Emuke
As part of activities marking 2023 International Day of Charity on September 5, Ufuoma Otarigho Foundation (UOF) has inaugurated some projects at the Ekpan Central Hospital in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.
The projects inaugurated by the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Emmanuel Sideso, Abe I, include the renovation/ painting of the Labour Room, Children and Maternity Wards of the Ekpan Central Hospital.
Other projects inaugurated are the installation of new curtains in the Labour Room and installation of new window net in the Labour Room, Maternity Ward and Children’s Room of the hospital.
The inauguration of the projects was to also commemorate the one-year remembrance of Ufuoma Otarigho which coincided with this year’s United Nations International Day of Charity.
The Otarigho family joined by the members and staff of the Ufuoma Otarigho Foundation had earlier held a memorial mass at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Ekpan, in honour of the deceased before the commissioning of the projects.
Speaking at the inauguration of the projects, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, represented by Chief Victor Otomiewo, a former Delta State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, commended the Otarigho family for the projects.
Chief Otomiewo while commiserating with the Otarigho family over the loss of the beloved sister, Ufuoma Otarigho, noted that the Uvwie monarch always appreciated gestures that would improve health and educational institutions within the Kingdom.
He urged other well-meaning Deltans to emulate the foundation by supporting initiatives that would improve the underprivileged in the society particularly in the areas of healthcare delivery and education.
Addressing the gathering, a member of the Ufuoma Otarigho Foundation’s Board of Trustees and sibling of the deceased, Mr. Emokiniovo Otarigho, said the foundation was established to keep the memory of their sister who died exactly a year ago as well as to promote charity works in the health sector in Nigeria.
Otarigho stated that the late Ufuoma had been secretly involved in charity to hospitals in Uvwie, Warri and their environs before her sudden demise during operation at the age 45years.
“The foundation will be promoting charity works in the health sector in Nigeria, focusing more on Maternal Health care, Peadratic Health Services in our hospitals, Vaccine safety for children, among others.
“The Ufuoma Otarigho Foundation was therefore founded in her memory to keep her legacy of service alive. Prior to her demise, she independently does charity work in different hospitals unannounced.
“Her last public statement on her next project was to begin renovation works at the Maternity ward of Ekpan General Hospital, the Children’s ward and Labour room in the hospital.
“She believes that women, especially pregnant women deserve a decent environment and children deserve the chance to be born into neat and hygienic environments”, Otarigho explained.
Others who spoke including Very Rev. Fr. Augustine Eruotor and the Zonal Matron of Ekpan Central Hospital, Mrs. Susan Meture, commended the foundation for the initiative and prayed for the repose of the deceased and the growth of the foundation.
