Tunji Adedeji
The Seplat Petroleum Development Company in partnership with Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have earmarked over $1.2 million as intervention initiative to construct a 200-bed permanent emergency and infectious disease hospital for the Southeast in Orlu, Imo State.
The initiative is part of efforts by operators in the oil and gas industry, spearheaded by the NNPC, to support the government’s response to tacking the COVID 19 pandemic and infectious diseases in general.
Dr. Ambrose Orjiakor ,Chairman of Seplat Petroleum Development Company made this disclosure at the groundbreaking ceremony of the project, adding that the project would be completed in 18 months.
According to Orjiakor, “What we are witnessing today is the groundbreaking for construction of a world-class medical facility well situated within this citadel of learning, the state university teaching hospital, is an outcome of NNPC our senior partner collaboration with Seplat to support Imo State.”
“It is pertinent to add that SEPLAT’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) philosophy hinges on proactively improving the wellbeing of citizens of our Host States/Communities of operation. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we had deployed our CSR programmes the Eye Can See programme, a health programme which provides premium eyecare, including but not limited to the provision of surgery for patients with cataract eye impairment; Safe Motherhood a health programme aimed to provide prenatal care for pregnant women and curb maternal fatality; and provision of Scholarship for Students in tertiary education. “
“This medical facility will strengthen the state’s efforts in its fight against the management of this current pandemic and be a Centre for the treatment of all forms of infectious diseases. It is anticipated that this facility which should be completed soon will provide succour to the people of the state even as we pray for the good health of His Excellency and his citizens. I will at this juncture like to express our profound gratitude and appreciation to His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma, the Executive Governor of Imo State Government for donating the land for this project.”
Dr. Ambrose Orjiakor said the NNPC/Seplat Joint Venture chose Imo State as the State to bequeath the Permanent 150-200 Bed Emergency & Infectious Diseases Medical Centre.
The Seplat boss poitredout that NNPC/Seplat JV had at the onset of the outbreak of the pandemic donated medical items to Imo State Government in support of the State’s efforts to fight the Coronavirus.
Performing the ceremonial foundation laying exercise, Gov Hope Uzodinma said, The establishment of the specialist hospital will save lives and make people healthy, the Coronavirus has taught us a lesson, never to be caught napping again, it will be curable and not incurable”
Uzodinma thanked the NNPC and Seplat, as well as President Muhammadu Buhari, for their kind gesture in sitting the project in the state said,”
We are glad that the lesson learnt has inspired us to prevent such disease from affecting people in future. We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for agreeing to erect the edifice in the state, I also thank the management for allowing the state to be the first beneficiary of the project, people should be rest assured that the much awaited prevention and control of the disease is here in the state,”
Speaking earlier, Sylva said that the project was an action taken to support the national health care delivery programme of the Federal Government, explaining that 21 states would be benefitting from the scheme, which stemmed from the presidential directive to the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, to contain the spread of the virus.
The Minister said the action was taken to support the healthcare delivery facility and as well strengthens the national resolve to combating Coronavirus pandemic and its dreadful impact.
