The Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim (ESOCS) Church has taken a significant step in addressing the healthcare needs of its members and the community by establishing a state-of-the-art hospital in Rivers State.

The hospital, which is the first-ever full-fledged hospital solely owned by the church, marks a major milestone in the church’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, undertaken to celebrate its centenary anniversary.

Speaking at the commissioning of the St. Moses Orimolade Hospital Ltd in Odani, Elelenwo Community in Obio-Akpor Local Government of the state, on Saturday, the Prelate and Baba Aladura of ESOCS Church Worldwide, His Most Eminence Dr. David Bob-Manuel, described the hospital as a legacy for future generations.

The Prelate highlighted that historically, the healthcare industry has traditionally been the sole responsibility of governments, but with the increasing demands and expectations of modern life, governments have found it challenging to establish and manage hospitals that meet the needs of the entire population, saying that in response, private organizations, including charitable and religious groups, have stepped in to fill the gap.

He said: “It is on this premise that the ESOCS Church, through the dependable CMC-9 officers, embarked on the hospital project as part of our corporate social responsibility to celebrate the first one hundred years of our corporate existence as a church.

“Today, we thank the God of our founder who crowned their efforts with success in record time. To God be all the glory for great things He has done.”

He, however, noted that the church would not run the hospital directly but would partner with professionals to ensure its sustainability.

He emphasised the need for compassion and love in providing healthcare services, especially in a country where many people struggle to access basic healthcare needs.

In his remarks, the Director of Medical Services at the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Nwachukwu Vincent, expressed his delight at being part of the occasion, noting that his team had inspected the facility and was impressed with what they saw.

He described the hospital project as a “wonderful venture” that would serve not just members of the church and the Odani people, but Rivers people in general, including indigenes and non-indigenes, predicting that the hospital would become a referral centre once it begins to operate, given its standard and quality.

The Director, however, urged the hospital management and the church leadership to key into the state government’s contributory health insurance scheme, saying the scheme allows people to pay less for health insurance, with the government covering the rest.

Also, John Macpepple, Deputy Director Audit and Monitoring ESOCS Church, who gave a description of the facility, noted that it is situated on a land area of 1,144 square meters and has a total cost of N264,000,000.00, including the value of the land.

He said the facility is equipped with modern equipment and technology, including hospital management software that will automate all activities, electronic medical records, laboratory and imaging management, and more, adding that the hospital is also monitored by surveillance cameras and has intercoms for easy communication.

Meanwhile, Prelate of the Mutolatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide and President of OAIC, Baba Aladura Dr. Israel Akindowo, described the hospital as a “very strong standard set by ESOCS” and encouraged other churches to emulate this initiative.

Dr. Akindowo noted that the ESOCS hospital is a good projection of the church’s identity and a testament to its commitment to serving humanity.

He urged other churches, including his own, to spread this initiative across the country, saying, “It is my prayer and admonition for the members of OAIC to emulate this and continue so that people can see.”

The Senior Apostle General and Secretary of the Holy Order, Dr. Napo Emuchay, described the hospital as one of the church’s best achievements in the past century.

He noted that the hospital was well thought out and pushed by the young men in the church, who knew what they wanted and worked tirelessly to make it happen.