SICK patients at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) on Sunday afternoon got a bit of change in their diet after members of the Dorcas society visited them and provided them with food.
Members of the Dorcas came from the three main districts within Honiara.
The program on Sunday is part of the Dorcas’ annual event to visit and feed the sick at the National Referral Hospital twice each year.
The next feeding program will be August. Apart from the hospital visit, the members also feed students in few nominated schools in Honiara twice a year.
Apart from providing food, the ladies also sing songs, prayed and provided words of comfort to the sick patients.
The feeding program was conducted in all the wards according to the societies and churches were the members came from.
Dorcas president Hellen Saera Hilly said, the program aims to support people who are in need by providing them with food and words of encouragement.
“We believe that by doing such program these sick people can enjoy food which contains balance diet and at the same time support the Ministry of Health by reducing their spending on food at the hospital,” Ms Hilly said.
She also pointed out that apart from this major visitation program, some of small society groups within the SDA district in Honiara continues to conduct their own visitation to the hospital from time to time based on their own any arrangement.
Assistant Dorcas leader for the Kukum SDA Dorcas group in central district Anna Tahani said, they were happy to visit all the sick patients and feed them.
“By doing such program we feel excited and responsible in showing out God’s teaching to the people.”
She said, the cost of making the food and logistics came from their ladies’ own pocket and the women’s group funds.
A church worker and patient at the hospital Pr Alwyn Wako acknowledged the visitation program conducted by the Dorcas ladies.
He expressed his appreciation to the women in supporting those people who have been admitted at the hospital with food.
“Such program is a blessing and I want to encourage the women to continue their good work as it is a fulfilment of the commission into the community.”
Many of the sick patients, their guardians and the medical staff have also expressed their profound thanks to the ladies for using their money, time, energy and resources to feed the hundreds of sick people at the hospital last Sunday.
By SOLOMON S. LOFANA