THE NATION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013
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Health relief for 1000 women •Continued from Page 17 hand, some had been abused, and others were picked from the road. “We spoke into their lives and their future. We prayed with them and led them to Christ and of course, we also had lots of gifts for them. It was a wonderful time. We left there crying because what I saw in them was bundles of talents and destinies being wasted as it were. But I trust God that the seed we have sown in their lives will yield a bountiful harvest. It was such a touching moment. We have also decided to partner with the home so we can give continued friendship and support”, she said. One major outreach of the faith based NGO is the Hadassah conference which over the years had impacted many lives positively. The HADASSAH Conference 2012 was not left out. The theme for this year’s conference, I Will Arise, held at Balmoral Hall, Oregun in Ikeja was filled to capacity as people trickled into the meeting from the morning of September 15 till the evening receiving the blessings of God as there were music ministrations, prayers and admonition being offered by different ministers. Among the beneficiaries of the past Hadassah yearly conferences who came to testify was Mr Daniel Emilelobo who according to him suffered from low sperm count. He said, ‘As a married man, I attended Hadassah 2010 having suffered from infertility. I had consulted different medical doctors but was told that I had a low sperm count which varied from 0% to 27%. It was a difficult time for my wife and me. We took series of drugs but no avail. My wife encouraged
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HE Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka has said that the Ibikunle Amosun administration will not rest on its oars in its efforts to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the state. Dr. Soyinka stated this at the Ita Osin Motorpark in Abeokuta at a programme organised by the
•Members of the group and some of the items donated me to stop taking the drugs and focus solely on God since there was no improvement. Prayers were made and shortly after my sperm count which hovered between 0 and 27 % increased to 80%. In the same month, my wife became pregnant during that period and she gave birth to Esther
Oluwafarati Emilelobo”, displaying the baby girl. The conference in its seventh year was fulfilling as a lot of people were blessed and testified of God’s miraculous intervention in their lives. Pastor Nike Lamai, who is grateful to God for his provision and
wonders said: “It all started in 2005 with our annual conference and since then, we have been holding conferences every year. The theme for this year is: I will arise. Between January and now, we have seen tremendous difference in the lives of our women. I think it was last year God spoke
to me and said we should take Hadassah outreach to the hinterland, the highways and the byways, beyond the familiar terrain. God said he has called me to the rejects of the society, the downtrodden; women that people will not want to associate with”, She said with a smile on her face.
‘Ogun committed to HIV/AIDS campaign’ Ministry of Health as part of measures to sensitise and increase awareness on the virus. Represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Rotimi Ogungbe, the commissioner
noted that the state government was determined to reduce the HIV/ AIDS prevalence from 3.1 to 0%, explaining that the government has provided necessary facilities as well as free treatment and diagno-
•From left: Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Health giving out condoms to people during a sensitisation programme on HIV
sis for the benefit of the people living with the virus. Speaking on the partnership between the state and the private sector on HIV and AIDS prevention, Dr. Soyinka revealed that government had been providing enabling environment for them to work effectively, just as it had been providing counterpart funds to execute HIV and AIDS prevention programmes in the state. Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Tunde Olowonyo, explained that aside from the sensitisation programmes being embarked upon by the ministry, government had also undertaken various steps to fight the scourge. He said these included reduction of the infection from mother-tochild so that pregnant women can bear HIV-free children, provision of additional supplement to improve immunity as well as access
to treatment and diagnosis. Dr. Olowonyo also advised members of the public not to stigmatise or discriminate against people living with HIV and AIDS, pointing out that being positive to the virus does not indicate that they cannot perform functions like other normal human beings. In an interview, the Director, State HIV and AIDS/STI Control Programme, (SASCP), Dr. Ranti Oladehinde disclosed that the aim of the programme was to sensitise and create awareness on the disease, its mode of transmission, and prevention, adding that centres had been provided in all the 20 local government areas for the people to access free HIV and AIDS counselling, testing, and treatment. Highlight of the event included lecture and enlightenment programme on HIV and AIDS as well as demonstration on the use of both male and female condoms for prevention.