Hundreds of old folks in the Pipeline Community, in Paynesville on early Monday Morning, April 8, 2024, benefited from free medical checkups from the Word of Life International (WOLI) a Christian-based organization.
The free medical checkup was provided at the WOLI School facility in the church building with over 35 beneficiaries participating in the initiative. The initiative aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number four which concentrates on ending poverty and leaving no one behind.
The project targets old folks between the ages of sixty years and above who are financially unable to cater to their needs and wants.
During the exercise, WOLI conducted medical checkups diagnosing the participants including high blood pressure (BP), malaria, pause check, weight, and temperature and later recommended to the clinic for treatment.
The WOLI was established in 1998 with a branch in the United States and also obtained Consultative Status with the United Nations in 2018. The group aims at caring for the aged.
Its vision is ‘’ connecting all people with resources in order to restore community pride and encourage self-resilience’’.
Since then, the WLI has been accredited as an International NGO by the Liberian Government and has been engaged in various programs in Liberia with funding from its USA Office.
Speaking in an interview at the initiative site, Rebecca K.G Nyamndo, WOLI Agent Focus Person for Liberia, said that the assent of the initiative is to care and provide for the old folks and elderly in terms of medical and food needs.
According to her, their concentration is to ensure that older folks from sixty years and above are well taken care of in society to avoid discrimination and neglect.
‘’We are providing this opportunity to our elderly folks in the age of sixty and above. We are doing this to help those who need medical attention but are financially incapacities. Beneficiaries here are from the community and the church. From
Speaking to one of the beneficiaries, old-ma Deddeh Vahweh extolled WOLI for the gesture, terming it as lifesaving and rewarding.
‘’My son, this checkup has made us know that we are moving around but sick. I was checked today. They did my blood test, weight, and malaria. I want to tell WOLI to thank you but wish they add the medication to it to help us’’ she noted.
Also speaking Man Momo Peter and Mother Patience Paygar expressed separate excitement and urged that the government come in to buttress the effort of the church.
‘’We thank God for this opportunity. We have been sick but because we don’t have money to go to the hospital or clinic this has been eating us up. Today, we are checking freely and recommending medication. We want support for them so that they can give us medication because to even buy the drugs we don’t have money’’ they concluded.
