by By Sylvia Akpan, CrossRiverWatch
The Cross River State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Edema Irom, recently led women on a humanitarian visit to a set of triplets being cared for by a good-spirited family due to the death of their mother during birth.
The gesture, the commissioner disclosed, remains one of the Ministry’s humanitarian programs tagged “bounty for families of multiple births” and is in line with the pet program of the wife of the Cross River State Governor, Rev. Eyoanwan Otu.
The set of triplets being cared for by a good-spirited couple, Mr. and Mrs. Ajah Ukam, is said to have lost their mother at birth, leaving behind their father with two other children in his home in Biase Local Government to fend for, despite no tangible job at his disposal.
According to Irom: “We were touched upon hearing of the condition at which the set of triplets were being raised at such a tender stage of their life and it invoked our concern and consciousness to take responsibility for being their caregiver.
“Truly speaking, with the harsh economic condition Nigerians are facing, one wonders how demanding it would be to take care of this set of triplets who are four months old and depend solely on infant formula for and as their meals.
“This is why we are here to support the family in any way possible so that they can adequately in turn take care of these children because they have the right to live and be taken care of.”
She lauded the family for their humanitarian gesture and charged other Nigerians to always be compassionate to each other as demonstrated by the Ukams and also commended the Governor’s wife for the show of love towards the wellbeing of all Cross Riverians, maintaining that, the State Government would continue to ensure that the children receive adequate attention.
During the visit, the ministry made a cash presentation including other items worth thousands of Naira to their caregiver, for the wellbeing of the children.
The visit had in attendance, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr Mary-Theresa Ebe, members of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Cross River State Chapter led by the Chairperson Rekpene Uket and representatives of the Association of Wives of Judges in Cross River State.
