PRIME MINISTER AND FAMILY FORGO FESTIVITIES TO VISIT SICK PATIENTS

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and wife Emmy Sogavare had to forego their family Christmas celebration this year to allow their children accomplish their ambition of spending the Christmas Day sharing God’s message of love and hope with the sick at the National Referral Hospital.

Christina, Dr Sheena, Brandt, Shannon, Lilly-Rose and Meredith and their mother Emmy arrived at the hospital on the morning of the Christmas Day completely unannounced to the patients and delighted them by spending quality time in their respective wards, cheering them up with scriptural readings, singing and presenting gifts to them.

A tearful Joseph Maru said, words cannot express how thankful he is to Mrs. Sogavare and her children for deciding to spend their Christmas with them.

Other patients expressed similar sentiments. A few others found themselves lost for words and only shed tears as expression of
gratitude.

Medical Superintendent Acting, Dr Carol Titiulu acknowledged the Sogavares for doing away with their family celebration of Christmas allowing them to make a quality hospital visit.

Dr Titiulu also acknowledged the Sogavare’s for their gift of money to all patients.

She said many of the patients find it difficult to even buy basic necessities as soap and giving them some money will really help them buy what they need.

Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the Sogavare’s, Mrs Sogavare said the visit was initiated by her children.

Mrs Sogavare said, understanding that their father having taken up the prime ministership again would be so busy, the children planned the visit themselves.

She continued, it was only the morning of the actual visitation when the kids were wrapping up presents for their hospital visit when their father learnt of their visitation programme and requested them to change it to include all patients.

Mrs Sogavare said it was a fulfilling experience for her children and herself to see the expressions of joy on the faces of the patients.