A BLESSING IN DISGUISE
Today, the 20th of March, 2021 mark exactly 15 years that we lost our precious baby girl – Goodness Olugu Ukpai Her death led to the formation of CHAMA – to “prevent other children from needless death” and “ to prevent parents from passing through the psychological trauma that we passed through and keep passing through” after losing our own Goodness.
After 15 years, the best way to describe the journey so far is Blessing in disguise It’s a blessing because lives have been touched, changed and transformed. It’s a blessing because over 600 100% free surgeries successfully carried out over 80,000 people benefitted worldwide, and scores have given their lives to Christ. For instance, at the Enugu invasion, over 800 people gave their lives to Christ.
It’s a blessing because, in Eastern Uganda, we have built a 9 room village of hope orphanage, including a 300 chapel auditorium inside it. We now have about 86 orphans living there when school is in session, according to an updated report this March. It’s a blessing because, in Nigeria, we have built a school for a community of over 100 years without a school. It’s a blessing because, in Northern Uganda, we have a school under a shade with over 200 children who walked over 7km to the nearest school.
It’s a blessing because we have built a family that transcends religion, ethnicity and nationality. It’s a blessing because, despite our differences, we are united for one purpose – a zero malaria world. It’s a blessing because the zeal, love and passion remain unparallel.
A Blessing in disguise because:
A wife who loses a husband is called a widow.
A husband who loses a wife is called a widower.
A child who loses his parents is called an orphan.
There is no word for a parent who loses a child.
That’s how awful the loss is.
The CHAMA FAMILY lack words to capture and appreciate His Worship, Mayor Mike Savage for the demonstrated magnanimity in declaring the whole month of March as MALARIA AWARENESS MONTH. You have literarily given us the wind to fly.
Congratulations to all CHAMA FAMILY warriors worldwide. Keep up the work and never back down in doing what you do even if it means standing alone!
The fight for a zero malaria world just began.
Olugu Ukpai, CHAMA CEO, WORLDWIDE
