The Order of the Knights of Saint Mulumba, KSM, Surulere Sub- Council, Zone 1 has inaugurated the Independence Charity, an initiative designed to provide support for health clinics in the Parishes in the zone and other areas often overlooked by stake holders. The event which took place on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at Events Center, Our Lady of Fatimah Catholic Church, Aguda saw the Knights donate health equipment to some parishes in the zone. According to WB Echika Ezuka, Zonal Leader, Zone 1, the new Charity is named “Independence” and targeted at the October 1 festive period to make it stand out from the crowded Easter and Christmas periods known for numerous charities. The intention, as revealed by Ezuka, is to draw public attention to the fact that many of the Parishes do not have operational health clinics and those that have are struggling to survive in spite of rising population.
The situation, he said is made more desperate by the crushing rate of poverty currently being experienced by most of the host communities, as a result of the pandemic and global recession. At the inauguration of the Independence Charity, two Parishes in Surulere, namely; Our Lady of Fatimah, Aguda and St. Brigid, Ijesha were presented with examination beds, drip stands, weigh scales and portable sphygs. In addition, Sir Lawrence Amadi, the Immediate Past Grand Knight of the Lagos Sub-Council graciously donated a detoxification machine and modern standing BP machine that were presented to Our Lady of Fatimah and St. Brigid respectively. Making the presentations, the Immediate Past Metro President, IPMP, Lady Dr. Ify Mgbelede noted that the KSM has charity in her DNA. She explained that the Order had numerous charities ranging from building of churches, building and maintenance of old peoples’ homes, training of seminarians, regular visitation to the prisons, feed the hungry, and many others.
Dr. Mgbelede commended Zone 1 for the initiative of the Independence Charity, as she noted that it has the capacity to bring relief to parishioners in the long term. The IPMP thanked the Knights and Ladies of the Surulere sub-Council for their impact on the well-being of the parishes and urged all not to relent even when it hurts to give. Accepting the clinic equipment, Rev. Fr. Damian Alozie, Parish Priest, St. Brigid Catholic Church, Ijesha thanked the Ladies and Knights for their thoughtfulness and execution of the Independence Charity. The equipment, he said would be of immense assistance to the nurses and doctors who run the clinics as parishioners are likely to rely more on the clinics. Fr. Alozie prayed that God would continue to bless the KSM with the grace to stir the laity to more charity.
