By Tejiri Ebikeme
The NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture has donated medical equipment to the Delta State Government to support efforts to contain outbreak of communicable diseases in the state. The donation comes on the heels of the donation of a Ford Transit ambulance to the State last September.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Otumara who received the items on behalf of the State Government at a ceremony in Asaba promised that they will be put to good use for the people of Delta State.
Presenting the items, the Government Affairs Advisor, Delta State, Mr. Daniel Agbofode who represented the General Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs, Mr. Deji Haastrup, noted that the donation was to further demonstrate the Joint Venture’s support for Government’s efforts to provide qualitative medical care for the people of the state.
He said that the Company was in partnership with the Delta State Government to provide medical care for people in riverine communities along the Escravos and Benin rivers through the River Boat Clinic (RBC). The mobile clinic had treated over 25,000 people in 14 communities between January and October this year, he added. He further said that the Company had also provided funds for the development of four cottage hospitals by the Regional Development Committees (RDCs) under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU).
He commended the Federal and Delta State Ministries of Health, the Port Health Authorities, the Ebola Incident Management Team and the Aviation Ministry for sustaining efforts to eradicate communicable diseases in Nigeria and expressed hope that the donation will boost these efforts.
The Commissioner of Health, Dr. Joseph Otumara thanked the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture for the donation, on behalf of the State Government. He recalled the earlier donation of an ambulance to the State. According to him, the “zeal you put into delivering the ambulance at the right time is very worthy of commendation”.
He described Chevron as a noble company which hardly promotes its Social Investments in the newspapers, adding that it was not surprising that the company was able to operate peacefully while some operators are leaving the area. He prayed for sustenance of Chevron business, noting that those who help persons in need are never forgotten by God.
Among the items donated are wheel chairs, motorized beds, LCD television sets, Nitile Examination gloves and non-contact thermometers. Others include goggles, disposable face masks, plastic buckets, plastic receptacles, coverage boots, plant buckets with tap, disposable aprons, elbow gloves and disposable gown coverall. They are to help in equipping Isolation centres for management of communicable diseases in the State.
The donation was witnessed by senior Delta State officials including the representative of the Oil and Gas Commissioner, Mr. James Akpede, the new permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. E. Otobo, the immediate past Functioning Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Michael Omatsola and several directors of the Health ministry.
