BENIN CITY – Wife of Edo State Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki on Christmas day paid a special Christmas visit to newly born babies, their mothers and patients in Government-owned hospitals in Benin City where she offered to pay the hospital bill of an unconscious child at the Stella Obasanjo Hospital.

The Christmas visits took Mrs. Obaseki to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Central Hospital and Stella Obasanjo Hospital.

The wife of the Governor visited Stella Obasanjo Hospital and celebrated Christmas with the babies, children and patients in the various wards. Mrs. Betsy Obaseki offered to pay the hospital bill of a child in the Children’s ward who was in a state of unconsciousness, although she did not disclose the offer openly.

In her remarks at the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, Mrs. Obaseki said, “That’s what life is all about, to make ourselves instruments in God’s hands, to be used to bless other human beings. Whatever we do, it’s God that is doing it, not human beings. To me, it is a privilege and opportunity to be used by God’s hand. I am very glad to find myself in that position. I thank God for everything.”

While expressing appreciation to Mrs. Obaseki for the Christmas visit, the Medical Director of Stella Obasanjo Hospital, Dr. Isaac Omorogiuwa particularly thanked the wife of the Governor for confiding in him that she would pay the hospital bill of an unconscious child in the hospital ward.

He said, “I want to say on behalf of the management of this hospital that we appreciate your coming. More importantly, her Excellency has just informed me that she would foot the bill of that unconscious child. This goes to show your magnanimity and human kindness. We appreciate you.”

Speaking during her Christmas visit to babies, their mothers and patients at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, on Sunday, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki said she was delighted to visit the patients and babies on Christmas day. She said, “I am very pleased to be here. I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. I have to commend the hospital; this is like being at home. No smell of anything foul or vile or unpleasant. It’s highly commendable and for a big hospital as yours, second largest in the country, and you are keeping the standard so high. Please keep it up, and well done, sir. Congratulations on that.

“By God’s grace, each year I come, I want to see the standard improving. You have done well, but there is always room for improvement. I will be looking forward to coming here every year and enjoy as I have enjoyed today.”

Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Prof. Michael Ibadin said the essence of the event was to share the joyous moment with patients who could not celebrate in their homes.

He said, “What we are doing today, the essence is for us to share the joyous moment with patients in the wards, who for circumstances beyond their control are compelled to do their Christmas in the wards. At the ward you have just visited is one of the maternity wards. The hospital is an 860 bedded-ward hospital, the second largest in the country. We are happy this is your first official assignment here. So, we wish you well, and we hope and pray that by this time next year, you have occasion to repeat an event like this.”

The Christmas baby of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, who weighed 2.8kg at birth, was born by Mrs. Serah Amadin at 00.50am in the morning.

Mrs. Betsy also visited patients, babies and their mothers at the Central Hospital, Benin City and shared the joy of Christmas with them by presenting them with gifts. Among the babies she visited was the Christmas baby born by Mrs. Anita Okoro, a male delivered at 1.59 am and weighed 3.5 kg at birth.

The Medical Director of the Central Hospital, Benin City, Dr. Barry Uwadiae thanked the wife of the Governor for remembering them at this festive period and expressed gratitude for the gifts she presented to patients, babies and their mothers in the wards.
The First lady, Mrs. Obaseki was accompanied on the visits by the Edo State Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Mrs. Aisosa Amadasun and some other APC women.