By Vincent Kalu
As part of its corporate social responsibility, the Divine Appointment Ministry International, Aja, Lagos, over the weekend delivered free medical treatment to no fewer than 1000 Lagos residents.
It was one of the highlights of the church programme, Mega Grace International Convention 2023, which was rounded off last Sunday.
According to the General Overseer, Pastor Ben Eragbai, the recipients received free eye examinations from an eye doctor, as well as prescription glasses where necessary, adding that “doctors also performed general examinations, and free medication was given out.”
Eragbai, also known as the Jesus Soldier, explained to journalists that the gesture was made to help the common people during these trying times.
According to him, the idea behind the project was to mitigate the hardship in the country by assisting the poor people have access to medicare.
He said: “We began this operation in 2007 with the sole purpose of assisting people in obtaining free medical care. Since the economy is still struggling or maybe growing worse, our church has chosen to do its part to assist the needy in having access to free medical care.
“In addition to that, receiving professional care these days is unusual due to the Japa syndrome that affects doctors and nurses”
In this vein, free medications were distributed and the on-site doctors treated patients according to their ailments. Those with more severe conditions were sent to a hospital at the church’s cost.
After receiving a pair of eyeglasses, one of the beneficiaries, who identified herself as Mrs. Oyewale, leaped with joy and said the church programme was a fulfilment of God’s prayer.
Said she: “When I observed what was happening, I was on my way to the beach front where I sell pure water. I reluctantly joined the line, and was attended to. The result is that my vision is better now. I couldn’t afford to go to the hospital because of the cost, so I’ve been drinking all kinds of herbal concoctions to help strengthen my eyes. God bless the Jesus Solider on our behalf.”
Another beneficiary, Razaq Bamidele, thanked the church and said this was his second time of benefiting from their free medical exercise. “I always look out for their programmes because apart from free medicals, I have received a lot of food stuff from them, even though I am a Muslim. I will bring my wife and children and they will be treated and given malaria medicine. My major problem is high blood pressure (HBP) and even without taking drugs, the foodstuff and gifts that I received made me feel better,” he stated with smiles.
While thanking the church for the free medical outreach, another beneficiary, a woman who identified herself as Iya Ibeji, prayed that God should bless the pastor.
She told the reporter that the church had promised to pay for a more comprehensive test to help her fully recover.
“God should bless Pastor Ben for me and my family. President Bola Tinubu should contract him to help share palliatives because he does not care if you are a member of his church or not. He will just come to our local area, pray for us, and give us food. Today, after talking to the doctor, I was given a note to go to the hospital, and the church will pay,” she said, displaying the piece of paper.