The Executive Secretary of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, recently joined the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson, to support a Non-Governmental Organisation, EARIA Foundation, in addressing kidney related cases in the state.
The event, which took place at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was to mark the birth of the Foundation and launching of EARIA music album.
In her welcome address, the founder of the organization, Ruth Ogoroki, explained that ETARIA (which means, love) Foundation, among other things, aims at showing love for the less privileged in the state, particularly those with kidney related ailments, noting that because of the alarming increase in kidney diseases, which had claimed many lives in Nigeria, there was urgent need to wake up to the challenge of addressing the killer disease.
She therefore called on Bayelsa State Government and kind spirited individuals, as well as non-governmental bodies, to join hands to provide succour to sufferers of kidney and kidney related ailments.
The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, expressed shock at the increasing rate of kidney ailments in the state, and Nigeria as a whole, especially the number of lives lost to the disease.
The Governor, who was represented by Dr. Wilson Ebiye, a Director and Consultant Surgeon in Public Health at Bayelsa State Ministry of Health, remarked that the State Government had taken bold steps to ensure that kidney related conditions were given serious attention, thus, government had bought an equipment to be used in detecting stones (renal stones) as well as another equipment to dissolve such stones when detected.
He further explained that the State Government had packaged a Health Insurance Bill and urged Bayelsans to embrace the scheme so as to benefit from its provisions, maintaining that his administration was ready to collaborate with private bodies to improve the standard of living of the people, and urged ETARIA Foundation to register with relevant government and international agencies to facilitate such collaborations.
Also speaking as the Guest of Honour, the Executive Secretary of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, applauded the leadership
style of Governor Dickson and his pursuit for improved health delivery for the good people of Bayelsa State and other Nigerians resident in the state.
The ES, who was represented by the South-South Zonal Coordinator of the Institute, Mr. James Imohiosen, further remarked that health is wealth, and therefore enjoined Bayelsans to embrace the Health Insurance Scheme of the State Government and utilize its provisions to the fullest.
Supporting the Foundation with a cash gift to launch the unveiled “ETARIA” music album presented to commemorate the event, Dr. Ayakoroma urged the founder to remain focused in her vision, and called on all and sundry to show support for those suffering from kidney diseases, as that was one way they could show love, as cultures all over the world endorse one being his brother’s keeper.
The occasion, which was under the chairmanship of Dr. Godknows Boladei Igali, represented by Deacon Fortune Sogwe, a retired Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa State Civil Service, was well attended by top government functionaries, as well as eminent dignitaries from private organizations and the media.
Clifford Ugwu
Corporate Affairs
NICO SSZ