Orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) and the elderly in Bonny Local Government Area had cause to smile today as the De-Choice Orphanage and Elderly Home Center was inaugurated with a promise to cater to their needs.
The centre is the first of its kind in the area where the number of unattended old people, OVCs, abandoned babies, single mothers and other critically challenged groups has continued to spike in the past years.
At the event to felicitate with the Founder and Executive Director of the center, Choice Ibotondo Jumbo were the Vice Chairman of Bonny LGA, Anengi Barasua, Woman Leader of Bonny Kingdom, Helen Jack-Wilson Pepple, Divisional Police Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Bonny Division, CSP Shuaib Achigili, and Senior Pastor of the Revelation Ministry, Pastor Caroline Benstowe.
Others were the Zonal Coordinator of the Environmental and Occupational Health Service, Bonny LGA, Rachael Banigo, Specialist Ophthalmologist, Eye Center, Cable Road, Bonny, Dr Victor Ezebuiro, and Dr Iyo Emmanuel of the Primary Healthcare Centre, King Asimini Bypass, Bonny, among other dignitaries.
Founder and Executive Director of the center, Choice Ibitondo Jumbo told her guests that the vision was about providing specialized care for the elderly aged 60 years upwards, orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs), abandoned infants and other challenged groups in the society.
“This programme is not only about free medicals. This programme is for old people from 60 years upwards who will be coming here three times in a week to sit, play, and meet with their fellow aged people who they have not seen before.”
“We will take care of them just like what my team members are doing like cleaning your nails, giving you a massage. Some people have already gone for massage. We will wash your hair and make you a new hairdo. It is just because of time because today is the opening ceremony. We will cook and serve fresh fish soup. We will play games together. All these things just to bring more life to you.”
BOUQUET OF CARE SERVICES
According to her, the concept was borne out of her desire to impact lives by giving back to society, explaining that beneficiaries of the initiative will be treated to nutritious meals, pedicure, manicure, eye and dental checks, massages, hair treatment for the women, among others and also engage in recreational activities such as exercises, games, etc.
It’s Worthy of Praise – Bonny LG Vice Chairman
Acknowledging the novelty of the initiative and its expected impact on the Bonny society, the LGA Vice Chairman, Anengi Barasua expressed delight over the establishment of the centre, noting that its present and future impact cannot be full contemplated.
“Actually, when I saw the news on Kristina Reports, I was happy because it’s a new thing. In short, it’s worthy of positive appraisal. I want to thank Choice for this wonderful piece. Choice you might know the meaning of what you’ve done but I know the mothers here and the elderly ones here will appreciate and I do appreciate as well as well-meaning Bonny citizens also do appreciate what you have done here.”
She expressed the hope that the center would answer to the several issues surrounding abandoned baby orphans and vulnerable children and the elderly in the area, praying God to bless the initiative with success.
We have our constraints and we have our challenges in putting up such things. So, when I heard that somebody from Bonny is doing this I was so delighted. God bless you. God bless you. From my own end I will see how we can push it forward to accomplish its purpose.”
Women of Bonny Kingdom Are Solidly Behind You – Woman Leader
To the women of ancient Kingdom of Grand Bonny, this initiative is new, unique and amazing. This much was expressed by the Woman Leader of Bonny Kingdom, Helen Jack-Wilson Pepple, who was represented by the Secretary of the Bonny Kingdom Women Forum, Mrs. Lily Hart.
She praised the visioner, Choice Ibitondo Jumbo, who she described as “a great woman”, noting that her initiative, which was the first in the kingdom will receive the needed support from the women of the kingdom to succeed.
“Our beautiful sister, our beautiful daughter, our great woman that God has used to do this kind of thing for us, we say welcome. What I have seen today my mouth cannot say it. This is the first and this is going to be the best because what we are seeing in Bonny Kingdom we have not seen it before that our daughter would remember the elderly.”
“She remembered us and decided that we will be coming here to do our nails, to massage our body and find time to relax, we have not seen a thing like this before. Let us give an applause to her for this. This vision will not die.”
“This vision has come to stay by God’s grace and the Leader of Bonny women said I should tell her that all the women of Bonny Kingdom are solidly behind her. This vision will not die but be going forward continuously. She said she will ensure that whatever it will take for her to succeed and wherever she needs to go to ensure that this vision becomes reality she will make sure.”
Security Agencies Will Support This Noble Vision – Police
For contemplating and delivering on a lofty objective as establishing an orphanage and home for the elderly, the Divisional Police Officer of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Bonny Division, CSP Shuaib Achigili, who was represented by ASP Samuel Ovuro, and his Finima counterpart, CSP Bashir Kontagora, who sent in his goodwill message, the Founder and Executive Director of the center deserves every support to succeed.
Both security chiefs extolled the vision of the founder, noting that this was a challenge to men as more women were making strong and strategic impact in the society, calling on other stakeholders to emulate her achievement to close critical gaps in the society.
Initiative Is an Answer to Prayer – Clergy
For Pastor Caroline Benstowe, Senior Pastor of Revelation Ministry, Bonny, who has been in the business of charity and compassionate interventions, De-Choice Orphanage and Elderly Home Center is an answer to prayers.
“I want to thank our daughter Choice who decided that our old people should be cared for when I came in and saw our aged mothers and fathers receiving manicure and pedicure, I was so happy, meaning that when I grow old too I’ll see where I can have my manicure and pedicure done.”
“What God has started today, it will be forever. This is the first orphanage and home for the elderly. We that are young today should understand that we will be old soon. These our elderly ones here were also young sometime ago but today age is catching up with them. Growing old is a normal thing.”
Center Will Enhance Health, Longevity of the Elderly – Health Official
With statistics indicating that loneliness kills more old people than any other ailment, Zonal Coordinator of the Environmental and Occupational Health Services, Bonny LGA, Rachael Banigo lauded De-choice Orphanage and Elderly Home Center for availing the elderly in Bonny LGA a convivial atmosphere to meet and interact, saying this would bolster their health and help increase their life span.
“I am happy to be here today. I am happy with what is happening here. This is the first of its kind in Bonny Local Government because if we had where to take care of the elderly, you would have had a place to meet and interact as brothers and sisters.”
“What kills most old people is loneliness when there is no one to talk to but when there is an environment for interaction there is hope, and opportunity to share experiences and this will surely elongate your lives. So what choice has done here now is a very big thing in Bonny Local Government Area.”
Several of the beneficiaries expressed delight over the opening of the center, saying that the initiative was timely, praying God to reward the Founder and Executive Director of the Center.
With the debut of De-Choice Orphanage and Elderly Home Center, the first facility in Bonny LGA established to cater for orphans and vulnerable children and the elderly, the phenomenon of specialized care for these class of vulnerable members of the society in the area has now come to stay.
Located at 24 Hospital Road, Bonny at Ayambo Community, it is easily accessible to all, and given the wide range of care services available at the facility, beneficiaries are optimistic of having a good time there.
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