-By Albert OGRAKA:

Wife of Delta state governor and founder of 05 Initiative, Dame Edith Okowa has said blindness could be both spiritual and physical, hence the outreach was packed with physical eye and other body checks and medications, as well as the word of God, to reach out to both categories.

The Governor’s wife said she was passionate about the project and needed everyone to benefit, and called on leaders in the area to mobilise their members from the various riverine communities to benefit.

She therefore urged anyone occupying any position in the state, to imbibe the virtues of humility and service to humanity.

In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Minnie Oseji, said the medical team for the Ministry were fully prepared to reach out to as many as made themselves available.

Also, the Coordinator of the Restore Sight Africa Initiative, Dr. Ernest Ogbedor said a total of 26,000 persons were seen, 15,811 reading glasses given out, 2,234 eye surgeries performed, with a UV- Protection eye glass given to each of the surgery beneficiaries in the 24 Local Government Areas visited and assured that Burutu Local Government would be adequately attended to.

The Chairman Burutu Local Government Council, Hon. Godknows Angele described the 05 Initiative medical outreach as a train of hope and restoration to the teeming populace, saying that Burutu people were happy that the team had finally arrived the Local Government.

Others who spoke including the member representing the area in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Daniel Yingi, the state Commissioner for Urban Renewal, Hon. Julius Takeme, thanked the Governor’s wife for consistently reaching out to the needy in a unique way, noting that the people of Burutu Local Government were happy with her.

The Director General 05 Initiative and wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Kevwe Agas said the 05 Initiative were committed to their goal of putting smiles on the faces of the needy and changing lives, one person at a time.

The event featured immunisation, nutrition education, brief exhortation by Rev Austine Dotimiye, distribution of soya bean flour, mosquito nets, reading glasses, eye and other body tests, as well as surgery.

It was attended by dignitaries including the wife of the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Ebieri Otuaro, Chief of staff Government House, Mr Tam Brisibe, among others.