The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has added another feather to his crown when he was made the royal ambassador for hepatitis advocacy by Sheam Health Care Foundation.
His wife, Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi was also honoured along the line too.
The award conferment was performed on Thursday 28th July 2016 by former Head of State and Goodwill Ambassador of Hepatitis Advocacy in Nigeria General Yakubu Gowon during a ceremony tagged Ile-Ife Free Health Caravan organized by Sheam Health Care Foundation(SHECA).
The event was the flag-off for a 1-week free hepatitis tests and vaccinations for the people of Ile-Ife in commemoration of this year’s World Hepatitis Day 2016.
The chairman of the occasion and the Chief Medical Director of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital(OAUTH) Dr Victor Adetiloye described Ooni Ogunwusi as most suitable for the award as he has been contributing materially and financially to the health care of the people of Ile-Ife since he got to the throne.
He specifically praised the monarch for his sponsorship of the first open heart surgery in Nigeria carried out by the teaching hospital some months ago.
The Executive Secretary of the Foundation, Princess Adepeju Hammed described the foundation as a non-profit making organization dedicated to the development of public awareness, prevention and care for viral hepatitis which according to her is preventable through behavioral changes, risk reduction and vaccination if the disease is detected early.
The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewale represented by a Consultant on Viral Hepatitis of Yakubu Gowon Center, Dr David Nwedu emphasized on hepatitis as a deadly global disease that has affected more than 500 million people chronically with most of the victims not detecting early.
The minister further explained that over 20 million Nigerians are living with either Hepatitis B or C or both and about 600 victims are in Osun state going by scientific proof. This is known to be more easily transmittable than the dreaded HIV virus.
General Gowon while thanking Ooni Ogunwusi and Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi not only for hosting the event both also accepting the awards described as laudable, the honour given to the number one Yoruba Royal Couple. He said having them as the Royal Ambassadors is the right step in the direction, and commended the foundation for their foresight in selecting them as their Ambassadors.
Gen Gowon, however, urged the people to come out for the free hepatitis tests and vaccinations as health is wealth. He also berated those in government positions who divert public money meant for health care or other public basic needs with reference to the ongoing alleged “budget padding ” in the Federal House of Representatives. He therefore called for stiff penalty for anyone found guilty to serve as a deterrent to others.
In his acceptance speech, the Ooni Ogunwusi said “this is no ordinary award but a reminder of my commitment to a progressive Nigeria and not just Hepatitis free Nigeria but a healthy country”.
He described the Royal Ambassador award as a very valuable and masses oriented one that will motivate and challenge him to do more for the masses especially in the health sector.
The foremost African Monarch charged well meaning Nigerians to stop amassing wealth at the expense of the poor masses, urging that the fundamental essentials of living, which entails supporting one another should be included in everybody’s daily routine.
“Why should we be busy amassing wealth, beautiful houses, and acquiring exotic cars when there are millions of our people out there who cannot afford basic healthcare for themselves, several of them do not even know they are having viral hepatitis in their system? “.
He ended his very emotional speech with a promise to put in his best morally, financially and materially in his usual character now as Royal Ambassador for hepatitis Advocacy in Nigeria.
Source :PMPARROT
