The devastating flood in Bayelsa could have been worse for some people, especially pregnant women and children but for the intervention of the Goldcoast Developmental Foundation, Mike Odigwe reports
As flood waters continue to submerge homes, farmlands and other sources of livelihood in Bayelsa, nursing mothers and kids in the state have every reason to thank God as they have been saved from the menace of the disaster courtesy of the efforts of a Non-governmental organization, the Goldcoast Developmental Foundation.
The foundation which was established about 10 years ago, has at the core of its focus, education, health, youth empowerment/development, including talent discovery and care for the elderly as well as the less privileged people in the society. All of these it has successfully achieved with the assistance of willing partners and like minds.
However, the foundation took its activities a notch higher when it decided to rescue pregnant women and kids, who were considered to be more vulnerable during this flood season. The foundation has established a temporary shelter home, the first of its kind in the state, dedicated for them and ensured that the victims have a roof over their head with nothing to worry about.
According to some of the nursing mothers, the temporary shelter was more than a home for them. They said the foundation’s gesture has erased the pains they would have gone through if they had stayed in other crowded camps set up for flood victims.
Explaining her experience, one of the nursing mothers, Rita Wori Abade said “the flood took over our environment, where I sleep, my bedroom, the street and I had no where to sleep, that was why I came to the temporary shelter home. They are doing good job and I appreciate them. They have been feeding us very well from the time we arrived.
“For our babies, they gave us diapers, wrappers, wipes, foodstuff and the rest, medical care. It has been a wonderful experience and God will continue to bless and provide for them”.
Another nursing mother, Precious Priscilla Terther while narrating her experience at the temporary shelter home, said she doesn’t feel like returning to her home even when the flood recedes.
“The flood made me and my family to come here. I thank God for the great privileged to be among those that were lucky to come here. They have been wonderful, attending to our needs and making sure we do not lack anything.
“They brought medical team to take care of us, fed us, they do all sorts of things for us, to help us go through this period. We are so grateful and may God continue to bless them, the workers, the founders may God bless all of you in Jesus name. Amen.”
Realizing the good intentions of the foundation, the Bayelsa Specialist Hospital (BSH), offered to provide a comprehensive medical support to those in the shelter home. Officials of the hospital said their decision was complimentary.
Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Mrs Cynthia Oye Isang in an interview said: “my team and I came here to contribute our little quota to this group of nursing mothers who were also affected by the flood. The effect of the flood is adverse, we can not deny that fact, and a lot of people have been displaced, so you can only imagine how stressful it is for nursing mothers to cater for their infants in this kind of condition.
“So, as a health care facility, we decided to come out to see what we can do to support the women. We are doing a couple of things. First of all the sensitisation of all the nursing mothers, to remind them and prompt them to take proper health care measures during this period.
“We also stepped out to encourage them with a word of support and our team are on standby, to make sure that we test them for malaria and other basic ailments, so that appropriate treatment could be prescribed if any, but generally just to give them a ray of hope that all is well”.
The coordinator of the Goldcoast Development Foundation Ms Brenda Izu, told our correspondent that they were driven by passion and the need to offer help when needed, adding that their little efforts were encouraged and supported by some individuals, organizations and the Bayelsa State Government.
“We were grateful to be supported by the Bayelsa State Government, the Bayelsa Specialist Hospital, the State Emergency Management Agency, FIDA Bayelsa, the Gloria Diri Foundation, Nigeria Red cross, Bayelsa, Women-IN INC central zone, Beautiful Minds initiative and so many others,” she said.
