– Donates ambulances, vaccine freezers
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited has affirmed its commitment to the capacity building of health professionals in the Niger Delta, in order to render quality and affordable healthcare service.
To this end, the oil firm has donated two ambulances and solar powered vaccine freezers to Edagbebiri Cottage Hospital in Rivers State and Otuasega Cottage Hospital in Bayelsa State.
The ambulances are equipped with mini-intensive care units.
Shell’s Head, Corporate Relations, Nigeria, Mr. Igo Weli, gave the affirmation at the ongoing Quality Improvement Training for healthcare professionals from selected public hospitals in Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States.
Weli, represented by Corporate Relations Manager, West, Mr. Amaechi Ijeoma, said that the company and its joint venture partners have supported over 27 public health facilities across the Niger Delta.
He explained that the support was in the areas of infrastructure upgrade, health systems strengthening, equipment and supplies and capacity building.
“As a company, SPDC understands the role of quality health care service in improving overall health outcome and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Hence as part of the organization’s commitments to its host communities, we started the quality improvement journey across all the supported health facilities.
“Health improvement in healthcare facility requires systemic and continuous actions that leads to measurable improvement in the degree to which the health care delivered reflects professional knowledge and standards.”
Presenting the ambulances and vaccine storage freezers, Group General Manager of NAPIMS, the investment arm of NNPC Limited, Mr. Bala Wunti said the gesture was to bring the benefits of oil exploration to Nigerians.
Wunti, represented by Mrs. Bumi Lawson, a Director at NAPIMS, urged the management of the benefiting health facilities to deploy the items judiciously in a responsible manner.
Responding, Dr. Ajoebi Oluwalobi, Permanent Secretary, Bayelsa Ministry of Health applauded the donors for the ongoing support to the health sector and appealed to them to sustain the trend.
More than 60 medical professionals from benefitting public medical facilities from Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers are participating in the training in Yenagoa.
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