- As CAN secretary Daramola bows out
The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh has decried the deplorable state of Health infrastructure in the country as grossly inadequate to provide healthcare services to elderly people.
He urged the Federal government to implement infrastructure that would help the elderly live a comfortable life.
Meanwhile, the General Secretary CAN Barrister Joseph Daramola has retired from the service of the association after spending 11 years at the apex Christian umbrella body.
Speaking at the Church service in honor of the outgoing General Secretary yesterday in Abuja, Okoh observed that senior citizens need constant medical attention due to the sickness associated with old age but lamented that the state of health infrastructure in the country is worrisome.
Okoh urged Nigerians to be the support system that old people have and warned the younger generation not to chase the old people away from the world until it pleases The Lord to call them home
He said, “Growing old is not a sin, growing old is part of the grace of God that we enjoy, people should be looking forward to becoming senior citizens so that they can enjoy the privileges therein. In many countries, when people get old, they do not worry too much about what they will eat, what they will put on themselves, and how they will walk because these have been taken care of. Our health infrastructure in Nigeria worries us a lot, the older you become, the more medical attention you require. People who have money could afford to travel abroad to get medical attention, but I can tell you that in the villages where we tend to have a more aged population, medical infrastructure is zero”.
The CAN President described the General Secretary as a man who loves CAN and also loves his job.
He said, “We want to encourage you that God has not finished with you, the Lord will always provide for you far beyond your imagination, and even when the healthcare system is failing, the power of healing of Lord Jesus will always continue to sustain your health that you may not even need the hospital”.
The Bishop Emeritus of Abuja Archdiocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan described the outgoing CAN General Secretary as a good Christian.
“Daramola is a very committed Catholic and because of that, he is a very good Christian”, Onaiyekan said.
In his response, Daramola, the longest-serving principal officer at CAN said that his retirement is not the end of his life career, as he would continue his service to Nigeria in other capacities.
He said, “They said I have served CAN faithfully, but I never saw what I have done, and I am very humbled by what CAN has done for me. I was just doing my work, even the Federal Government noticed it, and they have been eulogizing me. I thank Almighty that in any position you are put in life, do it consciously and more faithfully. This is not the first time I am retiring; I retired from the federal government.
“I began my career in life as a clerical assistant and I had a vow that I will not leave service as a junior officer. I got to the peak of my career as Director of Investigation. I have trained so many young ones that are now directors, and national secretaries. Coming to CAN, I was doing my work, and some people said that I am too cold, I said yes, for those that don’t know me, I will always listen to people, I gather intelligence from so many to put it to use, I don’t compromise truthfulness and straightforwardness and I am very firm in what I do.
“I am still going higher. Not too long, I will call you to come and celebrate a new position”, he added.
