A group photograph of Rotary club members and beneficiary of hole-in-the-heart- surgery, baby Obazee Osatohanmwen and mother, Lucy at the Port Harcourt International Airport, on their way back from India
From Blessing Mbonu, Port Harcourt
A young woman has appreciated Rotary International Club through its Port Harcourt Central chapter for sponsoring the heart surgery of her one year and five months old daughter, baby Obazee Osatohanmwen in India.
The mother of the baby, Mrs Lucy Osaretin told The AUTHORITY that the surgery which was successful was soley sponsored by Rotary Club.
She stated that she was not a member of the club to command the treatment but was favoured by the club through the Rotary Club Port Harcourt Central.
According to Mrs Osaretin, the process of the ‘hole in the heart surgery’ from Nigeria to India and back to Nigeria was smooth and totally sponsored by Rotary Club.
Commending the club further she said “Thanks to every member of Rotary Club Nigeria and India. Infact, they are beautiful people and may God Almighty bless you all.
“The first day I got to know about Rotary, it was like a dream and my husband’s sister said ‘Stop crying there is a club that will assist you save your daughter’, and that was how I got connected to the club and was told I would be going to India.
“I went on that trip as if I was the President of Nigeria. Everything was smooth. The rotary club in India received me when I got there, they gave me everything that I want, the surgery went smoothly. They made sure we were comfortable until the last minute of our departure.
“I lost hope completely when I was told how much it will cost me for my daughter’s surgery, but suddenly, Rotary came and wiped away my tears”, Mrs Osaretin added
Speaking also at the Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa, Rivers State, on the beneficiary way back from India, Rtn Ebong John Asuquo, President, Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Central, explained that the dream of every Rotarian is to see the life of the next person better than what it is and that is why they are carrying out life changing projects in places even when they don’t get to know the beneficiaries.
He said: “This project started last year, we were able to send a baby to India last year and the baby came back successfully too, baby Emmanualla. Today, we are welcoming baby Obazee and believing if we have another child, the commitment from our partners in India is that we can send another child.
“This project must have cost so many persons money and commitments, but so long as the life of the baby to be saved is being saved, the surgery went on successful and the baby is back, that is why we are happy and I am sure the life of Obazee is changed for good”, Ebong said.
Ebong however, noted the commitment of the Rotary International President, Shekhar Mehta, DG Rajendra Agarwal, RI District, Rotary Club Port Harcourt Central, Rotary Club Mumbai Royales, India and others in the successful surgery of the babies.
