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By Ifeoma Ezenyilimba
A group known as Swiss Friends of Nigeria, on Monday, January 6, visited the Catholic Diocese of Awka-owned Loretto Special Science School, Adazi-Nnukwu, Anaocha LGA, during which the group sensitized the students and teachers on health and resilience, and donated five brand new laptops and an interactive white board to the school.
The Swiss Friends’ group which was formed by a Switzerland-based Awka Diocesan Catholic priest, Rev Fr Ignatius Okoli, at the visit, educated the Loretto Family on causes, prevention, care and possible eradication of the killer malaria disease.
One of the speakers, Dr Helen Hochreutener, observed that Nigeria had a high maternal mortality rate. She noted that to ensure good health, there was an urgent need to address the high maternal mortality rate, which, according to her, was often caused by malaria and other health problems.
Dr Hochreutener described resilience as the science of mastering life’s greatest challenges and identified the ability of people to confront their fears, maintain an optimistic but realistic outlook, imitate sturdy role models, attend to their health and well-being, and through exercises and healthy feeding, stay physically fit, as some of the resilience factors.
Another speaker, Elizabeth Rosario Rivos, who spoke on Dreaming big, setting goals and taking actions; identified defining one’s goal, making a plan, staying focused and celebrating each achieved step, as the steps to success.
Speaking on the occasion, the school proprietor and Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, thanked the group for the visit and their donations in support of educational development
In their various speeches, the Manager/Principal, Loretto Special Science School, Adazi-Nnukwu, Rev Fr Arinze Udeh, and the senior prefect of the school, Jennifer Ezenwote, commended the Swiss Friends for what they described as their special contributions to educational development in Loretto.
For his part, the initiator of the Swiss Friends of Nigeria, Rev Fr Ignatius Okoli, said the group which was officially one year old, came into being to encourage interaction as well as contribute to human and societal development.
Rev Fr Okoli said the group also as part of its 2020 Health Outreach Programme had earlier organized a 2-day free health care programme for the people at Ezira, Orumba South LGA, Anambra State.
Dr Helen Hochreutener, speaks to Loretto students and teachers on health and resilience, Jan 6, 2020.
The School Proprietor and Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor (left), welcomes the Swiss Friends at Loretto, Adazi-Nnukwu.
Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor (centre), poses with the Swiss Friends and the Management Team and members of staff of Loretto Special Science School, Adazi-Nnukwu. The bishop is flanked on his right by the leader of the Swiss Friends of Nigeria, Rev Fr Ignatius Okoli, and on his left by the Manager of Loretto School, Adazi-Nnukwu, Rev Fr Francis Arinze Ude.