LAGOS OCTOBER 15TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Personalities from all over the world recently came together at Petroleum Training Institute Conference Centre, Warri, Delta State to see how they could assist the Founder of Graceland Diabetes Foundation Mrs Mercy Ekpoke to put in place a befitting building that will act as a permanent site for free screening and treating of diabetes and hypertensive patients.

Such assistant became necessary when one take into consideration the lives of people the Foundation had saved by providing free diabetes and hypertension screening followed with free treatment since its inception in 2013.
Graceland Diabetes Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) registered under Corporate Affairs Commission in Nigeria in 2013 with Reg. No CAC/IT/NO 61093 to offer free screening and advisory services for diabetes and its twin ailment hypertension to people in the communities that otherwise would have difficulties accessing such services.
The organization is a member of World Association of Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and Nigeria Network of Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).

Addressing the audience on why she decided to established such a non-profit organization to save lives of people in the rural communities, Mercy Ekpoke recalled that the establishment of Graceland Diabetes Foundation is a cause that is born out as a result of the death of her loved ones, two aunties and a cousin, to diabetes while other two aunties died due to high blood pressure killer disease.
She maintained that in other to prevent untimely death caused by diabetes and high blood pressure from other people she decided to come up with Graceland Diabetes Foundation project.
According to her, “The foundation has been in operation since 2008. Our start-up point was in London where National Health Services is nearly free for all citizens, and for those who are qualified for it. We provided free public screening, awareness campaigns, consultancy treatment and diet support to people at Deptford High Street and Woolwich High Street, in London. The turn up was successful.”

Thus, the success of their operation in United Kingdom gave Mercy Ekpoke the courage to extend the programme to Nigeria, in the same year 2008 with their first place of operation being at Redeemed Christian Church of God (Sunshine Assembly) Egbe, Lagos. Thereafter they proceeded to other places.
In 2013 to date Graceland Diabetes Foundation had achieved a landmark success in various communities in its drive to provide free diabetes and high blood pressure awareness campaigns. Many bear eloquent testimonies to the impact and the success of the organisation commitment to eradicate sudden death caused by the killer disease.
Some of the communities Mercy Ekpoke and her volunteers have save lives in Delta State include Orerokpe Town in April 4, 2013, Orughworun, in April 15, 2013, Uvwie Community in April 17, 2013, Sapele LGA, April 12, 2014 and Ekiugbo Community, Ughelli North LGA in August 04, 2015 among others.

It should be noted that over the years, Graceland Diabetes Foundation has been providing free public screening, awareness campaigns, treatments and diet support services, through personal resources of the founder, family, friends’ and partly from private individuals, corporate organization and communities leaders.
Consequently, they are daily overwhelmed by requests from communities around the country for services and can only respond to their needs if there are enough resources available to enable them improve on health care delivery and post service evaluation.
Thus, in other to provide adequate medical services to the needies, the organization need a permanent medical site and this is responsible for its call to government, humanitarian organization, corporate organization, global aides organizations and other well meaning people to generously donate their widow might by assisting both in financially and kind towards its course of building a permanent diabetes medical centre.
“The construction of the centre is the next phase of our service to the people and we appeal for the support of organizations and well meaning Nigerians. The project is sited in Orerokpe, Ethiope-East LGA and will be of immense benefit to the people of Delta State. This is the very first Diabetes and High Blood Pressure Management Centre in the state,” She explained.

She said the reasons for the establishment of a diabetes medical centre is to provide patient with self management skills, maximize the effectiveness of medical treatment, inform patients about the latest in diabetes treatment and research, encourage daily activity and healthy lifestyle and to reduce the risk of the long term complication of diabetes.
She expressed her sincere gratitude to HRM Orhue 1, Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Gen Mujakperue for being highly supportive to the course of Graceland Diabetes Foundation to fight against diabetes and keyed in it by donating a piece of land for the project.
“ His word of encouragement and support is the tonic that made us to be where we are today. We also wishes to implore the support and contributions of all dignitaries present to enable us touch lives in all communities in Delta State and beyond,” Mrs Ekpoke pleads.
You can contact the mamangement of Graceland Diabetes Foundation on telephone numbers- (+234) (0) 8085274720, (+234) (0) 8078888434, (+234) (0) 8141319588, (+234) (0) 7044944719, Email address- info@gracelanddiabetesfoundation.org and gracelanddiabetesfoundation@gmail.com. You can also access them on their website- www.gracelanddiabetesfoundation.org.
Those willing to support financially can payment to Graceland Diabetes Foundation, Account Number (Current) 1013379419, ZENITH Bank and for Domiciliary Account (ie Dollar) 5070255918, Zenith Bank