In a compassionate gesture aligned with the spirit of Easter celebration, Her Excellency, Chief Mrs. Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru, wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has settled hospital bills totalling N3 million for indigent patients at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA).
Through her pet project, the Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons Foundation (BERWO), the First Lady cleared outstanding medical bills for several patients who had been discharged but remained stranded in the hospital due to inability to pay their bills. The intervention enabled the patients to reunite with their families and celebrate the Easter season with renewed hope and dignity.
Speaking during the discharge exercise, Mrs. Nwifuru emphasised her commitment to equitable access to healthcare. “No one should be denied medical care due to lack of funds. This Easter gesture is a call to compassion and a reminder that we all have a role to play in supporting the vulnerable in our society,” she said.
The Chief Medical Director of AE-FUTHA, Prof. Robinson Onoh, who led the hospital management team during the visit, commended the First Lady’s consistent support for indigent patients. He described the intervention as a “major relief” that would go a long way in easing the burden on both patients and the health system.
This latest act of benevolence builds on Mrs. Nwifuru’s longstanding advocacy for improved healthcare delivery, particularly for women, children, and the less privileged across Ebonyi State. Through BERWO, she has continued to champion initiatives that address health challenges in rural communities and support internally displaced persons.
The Ebonyi State Government remains committed to complementing such private initiatives with robust policies aimed at providing quality and affordable healthcare for all residents.