Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and its joint venture partners have donated fully-equipped mini-intensive care ambulances and solar-powered vaccine freezers to some SPDC-JV-supported health facilities in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta States.
The Otuasega Cottage Hospital in Bayelsa and Edagberi Cottage Hospital in Rivers each took delivery of their ambulance during the flag-off of a two-day healthcare quality improvement training for Bayelsa and Delta health professionals organised by the SPDC in Yenagoa on Thursday.
Besides, the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), Okolobiri, Bayelsa State, and the Ogulagha Cottage Hospital, Burutu, Delta State, each took delivery of their solar-energised vaccine freezer at the handover ceremony.
The participants were drawn from SPDC-JV-supported hospitals in Otuasega, Kolo, Diete-Koki and the NDUTH in Bayelsa, and Ogulagha hospital in Delta.
Speaking at the twin-event, Head of Corporate Relations, SPDC, Igo Weli, explained that the gesture “is in line with our commitment to powering progress, strengthening the healthcare service system and ensuring access to quality healthcare services at all levels in our host communities.”
He added that the SPDC and its JV partners- NNPC Limited, Total Emergies and ENI- had supported over 27 health facilities in the Niger Delta and other parts of Nigeria in infrastructure upgrade, health system strengthening, equipment and supplies and capacity building.
According to him,the vaccines were very important in preventing diseases like poliomyelitis, tuberculosis, measles, among others, stressing that the solar-powered vaccine freezers would bridge the gap occasioned by epileptic power supply which reduces vaccine potency, according to a 2019 gap analysis.
He said: “As a company, SPDC understands the role of quality healthcare services in improving overall outcomes and achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Hence, as part of the organization’s commitment to its host communities, we started the quality improvement journey across all the supported facilities.
“Today, SPDC and its joint venture partners are demonstrating their commitment to, and continuous support for the delivery of quality health services by launching this 2-day Quality Improvement training for health professionals across Bayelsa and Delta States.The SPDC JV is also donating a fully equipped mini-intensive care ambulances and solar-powered Refrigerator/Freezer to support the healthcare system in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta States.
The Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Bala Wunti, who was represented by Bunmi Lawson, said the donations and the training were a demonstration of the organisation’s desire to give back to stakeholders.
In his remarks, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Health, Dr Pabara Newton-Igwele, represented by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Dr Oluwatoyin Azebi, commended the SPDC for its consistent support to quality healthcare delivery in the state.
