The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC and Chevron Joint Venture has revealed plans are underway for the building of ultra-modern mother and child specialist hospital in Ondo state.
Group manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA) of NNPC/Chevron joint venture Esimaje Brikinn disclosed this while speaking at the launch of the Roll Back Malaria Programme (RBP) in Owo, Owo local government area of the state.
He said the hospital would be built in Ugbo, Ilaje local government area in conjunction with the state government and some stakeholders in the area.
Brikinn, who was represented by Sam Daibo, the Area Manager PGPA Field Operations, said the move was aimed at securing and adding value to health and development of Nigerians.
He said the RBM programme which includes spraying of insecticide, distribution of insecticidal nets and capacity training for health workers were aimed at reducing the scourge of malaria in the state.
The programme had last month been launched in Ugbo in Ilaje LGA.
He advised every resident in the area to participate actively in the programme.
He said, “Currently, we are partnering with the state government, the Ilaje Regional Development Committee as well as the Amalgamation of IIaje-Ugbo Coastal Communities Association to build a modern Mother and Child Specialist hospital in Ugbo land.
“We have done all these because we have always viewed the provision of quality healthcare delivery as a crucial social service that will help build a healthy citizenry and unlock the country’s human potential. The interventions align with our business and social objectives since we recognize the profound interdependence of healthy businesses and healthy societies.
“It is our hope that we record more successes in our collective fight to reduce the prevalence of malaria in Ondo state and Nigeria in general.”
The commissioner for Health in the state, Wahab Adegbenro lauded the oil company for the intervention programme adding that the government would continue to partner the company in a bid to end malaria in the state.
Adegbenro who lamented the amount of money being spent by the government on treatment of malaria in the state said quality and affordable healthcare would remain priority of the present government.
Describing the oil company’s intervention as laudable, wife of the governor, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu solicited the inclusion of other sixteen local government areas of the state in the programme.
Akeredolu urged the people to make adequate use of all the materials provided towards reducing malaria in the state.
YOMI AYELESO, Akure
