Mkpoikana Udoma 09 November 2016, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – As part of its corporate social responsibilities, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHED, in collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has flagged off a healthcare initiative for people living in its host communities.
This happened at the National Youth Service Corps’ Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers, HIRD, in Port Harcourt, during which the company donated cartons of drugs to the NYSC.
Chief Executive Officer of the PHED, Mr. Jay McCoskey, applauded the initiative of the NYSC to provide access to sustainable healthcare, through diversity and innovation amongst rural community dwellers of the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers.
McCoskey, who was represented at he event by the Chief People Officer, Mr. Mobolaji Ajani, urged the community to take good advantage of this intervention and encouraged other well-meaning Nigerians and corporate bodies to offer support to the course.
He said: “Part of our mission as an electricity distribution company is to ignite socio-economic growth and empower the future of our stakeholders, including rural dwellers.
“It is on this strength that we appreciate the efforts of the NYSC in general and the flag off of Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers in Rivers State.
“From the PHED Management, we offer these essential drugs made up of Anti-hypertensive, Anti-Malaria, Anti-Infective, Analgesic, Antacids, Hematinics, Hypoglycemic and Consumables, as part of our support to the NYSC’s HIRD. We wish you all the very best of intervention for our rural communities.”
Activities which took place during the programme included lectures on breast cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, HIV and others. Consultation, medical tests and administration of drugs were also done on members of Elekahia community.
Also speaking, the Coordinator, NYSC, Rivers State, Mrs. Ngozi Nwatarali, said that the programme is aimed at providing affordable and timely healthcare for rural dwellers that lack access to basic amenities.
According to her, “the programme began last year at Ozuoba community and it is currently taking place all through the Federation,” adding that after the flag off ceremony, other rural communities in Rivers State would also benefit from the programme.
