Covenant University Provides Health Care, Portable Water to Rural Communities

Covenant University’s Community Development Impact Initiative Committee (CU-CDIIC) in partnership with the alumni base of the University went to two rural communities to deliver health care and portable water to members of those communities. This was on the occasion of the David Oyedepo Day Of Service (DODOS 2014) to mark the 60th birthday celebration of the Chancellor and Chairman, Board of Regents of Covenant University, Dr. David Oyedepo.

The humanitarian arm of the University, in upholding Dr. Oyedepo’s legacy of contribution to humanity, extended free medical services to indigent members of Ilobi Village in Yewa South of Ado/Odo Ota Local Government Area.

The Chairman, CU-CDIIC, Dr. Abiodun Adebayo, said Covenant University chose Ilobi Village as an appropriate place to provide free medical services because of the dearth of medical facility in the community. He added that the current Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) scare was another reason why the locality was preferred, as adequate enlightenment of those in business of hunting for consumption was key to stopping the unconscious spread of the virus. Dr. Adebayo said the initiative was the first in a series of interventions that Covenant University would be bringing to the people of Ilobi Village and neighbouring communities in the Ado/Odo Ota council area.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charles Ayo, represented by Professor Patrick Edewor, said Covenant University is founded on the principle of raising great men and women, and in doing that, the University is not restricted to its campus alone, but affects the host communities as well. According to him, apart from teaching and researching, Covenant University is committed to affecting her surroundings through adequate provision of healthcare delivery system, portable water, sanitary measures, and meeting the physical needs of the people whenever possible.

He commended the Chancellor for constantly making resources available for impacting on communities from time to time, as recorded by the number of community development initiatives and humanitarian services the University has rendered since inception in October 2002. As a precursor to the free medical services, Dr. Mercy Idachaba of Covenant University Medical Centre delivered a health talk on preventive measures members of the Ilobi Village can put in place to avoid the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Dr. Idachaba told the indigenes that one of the easiest ways of forestalling the spread of the virus was by engaging in high standard of hygienic practices like regular hand washing with soap and water, having their bath at least twice a day, avoiding contacts with wild animals like bats and monkeys, and avoiding bush meat delicacies. She advised members of the communities to avoid self medication as early symptoms of the hemorrhagic fever of Ebola is synonymous with common malaria, which in some cases would unconsciously be spread by the host carrier of the diseases.

Dr. Idachaba told the mammoth crowd that medical practitioners can only care, but it is God that gives good health, and even at that, humans should not become careless about their health by exposing themselves to ways of living that could endanger their well-being.

Senior pastors of the proprietor-base of the University, Pastors Ranti Emmanuel and Goke Adekeye, were also at the event to minister to the spiritual need of the people of Ilobi Village, with 47 of them experiencing new birth.

The 2014 David Oyedepo Day Of Service free medical exercise made provision for immunization of children, blood pressure measurement, de-worming exercise, blood sugar screening, body mass index, dental consultations, session with optician, free drugs, eyeglasses and insecticide treated nets; clothing materials, beddings and food items were also given to members of the community.

In the spirit of the season, the University also donated and commissioned a water borehole project in Agoro Estate Community Development Association of Onigbongbo Village in Atan area of Ado/Odo Ota.

While receiving members of the University to the village, the Baale of Onigbongbo, represented by the Chairman Agoro Estate Community Development Association (ACDA), Mr. Akinwale Adesina, said the borehole project was a laudable and highly philanthropic one to the people of the village.

According to Mr. Adesina Covenant University’s gift to the people of Onigbongbo will go a long way to eradicating all water related diseases, thus a special management committee has been put in place by the community to ensure that it is properly maintained, and not vandalized.

While acknowledging that Covenant University has bailed them out of the recurrent problem of access to portable water, they solicited Covenant University’s intervention in assisting them to procure a new 500 KVA 33 Transformer to meet their power needs in the community, as the present arrangement between Onigbongbo and neighbouring communities was meant to be a short term one. They appreciated the good hand of God upon the Chancellor, Dr. David Oyedepo, and prayed that the diamond jubilee celebration would be a new beginning for him in good health and sound mind.

The Chairman, CU-CDIIC, Dr. Abiodun Adebayo, told the enthusiastic people of Onigbongbo that one of the things Covenant University stands for is to ensure that the ordinary people out there are also impacted positively. He said, because water is very significant to living it is the first thing that the University can lay her hands upon to give to the community and as time goes on, other tangible projects, that would enhance living, would be put in place for the Onigbongbo community.

In his response, the representative of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Patrick Edewor, said the community impact initiatives of Covenant University is not one that is done on the pages of newspaper, but it is taken as a serious agenda for upgrading lives and ensuring the well-being of members of the host community. He averred that the University philosophy is patterned after the life of the Chancellor, who is passionate about helping people experience the best that life has to offer, through adequate funding of the University’s various community outreaches.

The theme of the 2014 David Oyedepo Day Of Service (DODOS 2014) was “Trans-Generational Legacy.”