ONYEJEOCHA PLEDGES TO SUSTAIN FREE HEALTHCARE BEYOND POLITICAL OFFICE

Former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, on Sunday said her annual free medical outreach, now in its 19th year, was inspired by a deep personal religious commitment rather than politics.

Speaking at the commencement of the Umunneochi phase of the 19th Nkeiruka Onyejeocha medical and surgery outreach at the Madam Suzanna Mba Health Centre in Isuochi, Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, the former minister said the initiative had been sustained over the years because of values instilled in her during childhood.

Onyejeocha, who is the All Progressives Congress candidate for the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, said she remained committed to providing free healthcare irrespective of whether she occupied public office or not.

“What God said to me is that I should go and represent Him, and I will do what He sent me to do. If He says I have to take care of His people, then I have to take care of His people,” she said.

She traced the inspiration for the outreach to her late grandmother, whom she credited with teaching her discipline, compassion and devotion to God.

According to her, those early lessons shaped her approach to public service and humanitarian work.

“I was once a little girl living with my grandmother, and I obeyed her. That is what I tell the youth of today: obey your parents so that your days may be long.

“My grandmother blessed me and encouraged me to go to church while ensuring that I did not neglect my household chores. She also cared for the less privileged who had nothing,” she said.

The former minister said the outreach was not conceived as a political project, insisting that her motivation was rooted in service to humanity.

“What I am doing is not something I learnt at school; I learnt it at home. It is difficult for me to stop because I cannot stop what has been built into me,” she said.

She disclosed that after becoming dissatisfied with what she described as the politicisation of healthcare, she acquired the property now housing the Madam Suzanna Mba Health Centre, named after her grandmother, and completed its construction within six months.

“This is not a government health centre. I named it after my grandmother. It has nothing to do with politics; it has everything to do with my covenant with my family and my God,” Onyejeocha said.

She urged healthcare workers participating in the exercise not to discriminate against beneficiaries on political grounds, stressing that the outreach was open to all residents.

“It is free for everyone, whether you belong to the APC, LP, PDP or ZLP, or even if you do not have a party membership card. I represent everybody, and we all serve one God.

“Do not discriminate against anyone by saying that the person is not a member of the APC. Sickness does not recognise political parties,” she said.

Onyejeocha also used the occasion to encourage young people to remain committed to Christian values, warning against what she described as attempts to lure them back to idol worship.

She said some beneficiaries of her empowerment initiatives had secured employment in the Federal Civil Service, expressing optimism that many would rise through the ranks in the coming years.

Welcoming residents to the outreach, she assured them that all patients who registered for treatment would receive medical attention before the programme ends on Thursday.

“I welcome you to the 19th edition of the Nkeiruka Onyejeocha Medical and Surgery Outreach. Everyone here will be attended to. We will remain here until Thursday, and if you are not attended to today, you will be attended to before the final day. Doctors care, but God heals,” she said.

A Labour Party chieftain, Ike Opigwe, said the longevity of the programme demonstrated that it was not tied to political office.

“What she has brought here has nothing to do with political parties. Sickness does not ask which party you belong to, and she has sustained this outreach for years, whether in office or out of office,” he said.

Also speaking, community leader Bethel Eze described access to quality healthcare as a key indicator of development, commending the outreach for providing free medical services to residents of Isuikwuato, Umunneochi and other parts of Abia State.

The Umunneochi phase of the outreach, which offers free medical consultations, surgeries and other healthcare services, is scheduled to end on Thursday, July 30.