The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor, has commended Sir Paul Chukwuma for donating a brand new ambulance bus to Sickle Cell Orphanage and Underprivileged Home, Agulu in Anaocha Local Government Area Anambra State, to ease the transport challenges facing the Home.
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The dedication ceremony took place at St Felix Catholic Church Nise in Awka South Local Government Area, with Bishop Ezeokafor performing the dedication rites. Blessing the fully equipped brand new ambulance, he praised Sir Chukwuma’s kindness and generosity, noting that his donation would support the activities of the home and urged other affluent individuals to emulate Sir Chukwuma’s gesture.
Bishop Ezeokafor was assisted by numerous priests including the Anambra State Director for Sickle Cell Matters, Rev Fr Dr Joel Okechukwu, who doubles as the parish priest and diocesan chaplain of the Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder (APLSCD).
He poured encomiums on Sir Paul Chukwuma, describing him as a “philanthropist extraordinaire” and a “true friend of the vulnerable.”
In appreciation, the Director of the Sickle Cell Orphanage, Aisha Edward- Maduagwu, expressed gratitude to Sir Chukwuma for his exceptional magnanimity. She highlighted the importance of the ambulance for emergency situations, especially during midnight crises.
“So, it’s a thing of joy and thanksgiving that our beloved brother, Sir Paul Chukwuma, in his magnanimity and ingenuity, decided to give us this ambulance even when we less expected it.
‘’In the midnight, severe cases of sickle cell trigger, and in every month we’ll have a number of our inmates rushed to hospital around 12, 1, 2, 3 am when the crisis of sickle cell triggers.
‘’Considering the security situation in Anambra State, kidnapping and child trafficking; anybody can be trapped, including our driver, with our children while in a common vehicle.
‘’So, this very particular gift from Sir Paul Chukwuma came at the right time.
‘’We less expected it; what we were anticipating was a shuttle ambulance bus; that’s what we had been begging the government. But Sir Paul decided to give us his own executive ambulance vehicle,’ Maduagwu said.
Maduagwu, the National Coordinator of the Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder, continued to appeal to the Anambra State Government and affluent individuals to support Sir Chukwuma’s generous donation by providing a Sienna or school bus. She emphasized the importance of transportation for sickle cell children, noting that they are particularly sensitive to extreme weather conditions and require frequent transfers.
Regarding Sir Chukwuma’s donation of an ambulance, Maduagwu expressed her gratitude, revealing that the gift was originally given anonymously. However, due to the Orphanage Home’s affiliation with a chaplaincy, the donation could not remain confidential.
She disclosed that Sir Chukwuma had been massively donating finances and food materials anonymously to the Home.
The dedication ceremony of the Sickle Cell Orphanage and Underprivileged Home Agulu was a well-attended event, with a strong presence of members, staff, and management of the organization, as well as clergy, friends, and well-wishers.
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