JANUARY 2023 UPDATE

ORPHANAGES UPDATE

New Admissions

We had one new intake at our Lokoja Orphanage for the month of January. She is Jumai Danladi, a baby girl born on December 21, 2022. She was brought to MoM Orphanage Lokoja on January 6, 2023 for her upkeep for a period of two years. This was following the death of her mother due to a severe loss of blood during and after childbirth. She was brought from Agaga Village, Koton-Karfe L.G.A., Kogi State. She is to be with us for a period of two years.

Baby Milk

Infant milk is an integral part of our needs at the two orphanages. They help with the feeding needs of our numerous infant babies. We get as much on a monthly basis. Below are pictures of what we got for the month of January.

Handing Over

Female twin babies, brought form Ogule-Ogbaulu, Agatu L.G.A., Benue State on November 10, 2020, were handed over on January 12, 2023 to be reunited with their biological family, having completed the two years of agreement of their upkeep. Their handing over was done in the presence of Hajia Sa’adat Abdulazeez, a principal officer from Child Department of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Lokoja.

Samuel was brought to MoM Orphanage on May 21, 2021, having lost her mother to a complicated Caesarean Session (CS). He was sickly and at a point, diagnosed with tuberculosis. We thank God that he survived it all and was handed over in good condition of health on January 13, 2023, to his family.

Joseph lost his mother on October 28, 2020 in childbirth and was brought to MoM Orphanage for his care and upkeep for two years. He was handed over on January 14, 2023 after the completion of his two years of agreement.

ELLA was also handed over to her family on January 14, 2023. The management of Ministry of Mercy was finally able to get her family down for her handing over, after abandoned her for several years because of her physical disability. Gushigi lost her mother at birth and was said to be cared for, for a period of two years at MoM Orphanage, Lokoja.

MEDICAL CLINIC UPDATE

The month’s update on our mission hospital is presented along the paths of the three main domains of the hospital’s activities – General healthcare, Charity and the Gospel. We have the following few selected stories from each area.

CHARITY HEALTH SERVICES:

Several medical services were provided to many patients for free or at assisted cost during the month. Most of these services have to do with maternal and child health cases. Eleven women had child deliveries virtually free of charge within the month; six of these were highly-subsidized cesarean sections. This is in addition to several orphans who also had medical services free of charge.

GENERAL HEALTH CARE:

Here we have a few selected stories:

G.M., 23-year-old male who presented with abdominal and Right inguinal swelling. Was diagnosed of Obstructed Hernia. Had a successful herniorrhaphy. He is doing well.

E.J., a Female infant. 4 months 6 days old. An abandoned baby brought in by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Kogi State on the 16th October 2022. She was one of a twin, the other is normal and apparently healthy. She had Cleft lip, Cleft palate and Microcephaly. She experienced tonic clonic seizures on several occasions. Had recurrent admissions for fever and diarrhea. She appeared to be coping while waiting for intervention until she died in her sleep in the early hours of 7th February 2023.

REPORT FROM MoM Clinic Outlet in Otutulu Village:

 1. W. Y. is one of our orphaned girls who has been HIV-positive from birth. She successfully lived with this infection for 13 years now. She is very healthy and goes to her school. Her last drug refill visit at the Kogi State University Teaching Hospital Anyigba was on the 13, of January 2023.

2. J. who had a scalp ulcer, the ulcer has completely healed but recently she had a domestic accident and had skin breakage at the wound scar, now we are cleaning and dressing the wound.

THE GOSPEL

Gospel activities are ongoing in the Medical Center, targeted at patients and relatives. In the absence of a substantive chaplain, the activities are being coordinated by some of our medical staff for now. The gospel continues to be shared among our patients and their caregivers through various avenues - Morning devotion sessions and ward evangelism.

FARM UPDATE

The Poultry - The layers chicken has started dropping eggs, although not many. About 1 crate and some eggs will be picked in a day now.

The Piggery - Some of the pregnant pigs have given birth to their piglets.

Cashew: This is cashew season we have started harvesting the cashew nuts from the farm. This is the photo of one of the harvests from farm, but we have had more than three bags since then.

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY UPDATE

SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECT

The school academic programs formally resumed on the 9th of January 2023. All the teachers and other education staff have all return to their various residents at Otutulu, before the school resumption date.

PRAYER REQUESTS

1.     Thank God for His daily goodness and mercy towards everyone in our orphanages, schools, farms and the Medical Center.

2.     Thank HIM for every provision from HIM through various means.

3.     Thank God for successful childbirth and other healthcare services achieved at the MoM Medical Center.

4.     Please pray for our 5 orphans who have been handed back to their families. May their exit from the orphanage usher them into the appropriate paths in life. May the Lord order their steps aright for the rest of their lives.

5.     Pray for Jumai, the new orphan admitted within the month, that God will raise them and provide for her physical and spiritual needs.

6.     Thank God for the success of our farming activities – cropping, fishery, poultry and fishery. We pray that God will continue to grant increase.

7.     Please keep praying for financial supplies for the monthly staff salaries of our caregivers, our teachers as well as our medical staff/health workers. May God strengthen the hands and hearts of supporters.

8.     Pray that the Lord continues to add more souls steadily from our Sunday school classes, the services of the Ministry of Mercy Medical Centre as well as the Ministry of Mercy Christian Academy and our various programs.

9.     Finally, pray for Nigeria as we navigate through the election season. There is a lot of desperation among the contestants. Please pray that God’s will prevails.

 Thank you for your invaluable continuous partnership in prayers, thanksgiving and giving.

 Sincerely yours,

Dr. ODIBA Friday, For the Publicity Unit,

Ministry of Mercy, Nigeria.

Ministry of Mercy…, Love finds a way. 1Cor.13:7