As part of its contributions to better the society, the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM), Nigeria, Lagos Metropolitan Council recently organised a medical outreach for the residents of Ilasan and Jakande communities in Lekki. The event took place at the Catholic Church of The Pentecost, Ilasan, Lekki, Lagos.
Speaking on the yearly activity of the Order, its Supreme Knight, Sir Charles Mbelede told The Guardian that the gesture was in fulfillment of its three “Ts,” which are, “our time, our treasure and our talents.”
He said: “It’s an annual activity, which the Order of St. Mulumba, Nigeria performs every year. The last one we had was at Benin Metro and we are here again to do same for Lagos Metro. Today, we are here to give free medical assistance and donation to the less privileged in this community. As I mentioned earlier, the Knights of St. Mulumba is an association of Catholic Knights, we are here to give our three Ts — our time, out treasure and our talents. So, this is part of giving our contributions to the betterment of mankind.”
Dr. Getrude Bassey, whose health talk was on the theme: “Prevention and Treatment Of Water Borne Diseases,” admonished the people to practice good personal hygiene and also to regularly wash their hands with soap, adding that they should also be vaccinated and avoid touching food items without washing their hands.
The Parish Priest of Catholic Church of The Pentecost, Rev. Fr. Paul Bastos commended the group for the gesture.
He said: “They have come here to reach out to people who cannot afford basic health benefits that government ordinarily should provide for citizens and of course, it is something that is praiseworthy, especially on this day that we are celebrating Workers’ Day. This is how they are working, working for God and humanity. In the Catholic Church all over the world, we are celebrating St. Joseph, a model of how a Christian should be, that is a good servant, serving in the church.
“St. Joseph worked despite that he is the foster father of Jesus Christ. He worked and taught Jesus carpentry work. Our work too is to bring beauty to the work that is what they have come to do. Our own may not be carpentry, your own may not be engineer, your own may be medical outreach, your own may be reaching out to people, everything that is good, that is work that gives glory to God.”
The cleric enjoined workers and the government to do whatever is right and do it well.
“I will tell workers and the government that whatever work they do, let them do it well, because there is dignity in labour. Whatever you do, do it well. Don’t do work because of what you will get, rather do it because you want to serve humanity as a teacher, as a pastor, as a journalist and as a mechanic or cleaner. Whatever work you do, do it well.”
Because it is not just for here and there is reward for you somewhere and so we must be concern about that reward.
“There is a difference between award and reward; reward is what we should crave for. So my admonition to every person both workers and government is that they should do what is necessary for the people and everything will be fine.”
The medical personnel screened patients for hypertension; diabetes mellitus; hepatitis A, B, C; HIV; prostrate; visual impairments and treatment of common health issues, among others.
Commending the association for the good work they are doing, Prophet John Ihemejie, one of the beneficiaries said: “I am thanking them because they are making life easier for people. They are helping people who have no money to go to hospital. God will bless them beyond their expectations.
Another beneficiary, Irene Osaga Oyekan, who commended the organisers, said: “It is only God that does something like this, that means they are godly children. They should keep it up and God Almighty will replenish their pockets and continue to give them the strength to continue to do that in Jesus’ name.”
