The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), the country’s ports economic regulator has donated hospital equipment to Isinweke Health Centre in Ihitte-Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State.
The gesture, which is part of the Council’s corporate social responsibility, is geared towards deepening healthcare services in rural areas of the country.
Hassan Bello, executive secretary/chief executive officer of the council, in a speech at the presentation of the items held at the medical centre, Isinweke, explained that the NSC placed importance on the issue of its corporate social responsibility programme. The council’s CSR is always targeted at the grassroots with a view to touching lives at the base of the society, he explained.
Bello, who was represented at the event by Winner Anayo, zonal director, NSC, South-East, explained that the council contributes optimally to the economic development of the nation, while protecting the rights and interests of all stakeholders in the transport sector, in line with world’s best practices.
He explained that the gathering was necessitated by the Council’s passion to support and empower Nigerians in need in different ways, as part of its corporate social responsibility activities.
“Accordingly, at the end of our last corporate social responsibility needs assessment exercise, the Isinweke Health Centre, Ihitte-Uboma, was found qualified to attract the attention of NSC’s CSR intervention and was graciously chosen, as one of the centres to benefit from this exercise,” he explained.
Items presented to the health centre were two single-motor hospital beds, two micro air alternating pressure overlay mattress, eight HD 1172 Philips iron, seven medium-sized towels, eight medium-sized bedspreads, and one Samsung 206-litre, one-door freezer. Others included two washing machines, one Honda (5.5kva) generator, one Honda (2.5kva) generator, seven rechargeable lanterns, five mosquito nets, and seven blankets.
Bello, while presenting the items to the community, urged health providers at the medical centre to ensure that they used the equipment to touch the lives of those who really need them.
“Our joy at NSC would have no bounds, when we find out that these items are judiciously engaged in touching the lives of the ordinary Nigerian citizens”.
Felix Okeke, vice chairman, Interim management committee, Ihitte-Uboma Local Government Area, Imo State, who stood in for the chairman, expressed joy that the LGA, was the first in the State to benefit from the scheme and thanked the NSC for the gesture.
He stressed that the items would improve healthcare delivery in the medical centre and assured that the equipment would be fully utilised to ensure that the poor, who are the target in which the medical centre was established benefits from them.
Eze Michael Ndukwe Ofoegbu, while thanking the management of NSC for their kind gesture towards his community, also urged the health personnel in the health centre, to use the equipment judiciously for the good of the community.
He also urged the youths of the community to jealously guide the equipment and other facilities in the medical centre, which according to him, were for their good.
Also Eze Jude Uwalaka, the traditional ruler of Umuihi ancient kingdom, appealed to the state government to upgrade facilities at the health centre, which according to him, was established in 1963.
“Government should pay more attention to the health sector, especially primary healthcare facilities in rural areas, to improve the lives of the people,” he said.
He assured that the hospital equipment donated to the community by the NSC would be protected.
GODFREY OFURUM, Aba
