By Els William, 8/7/2023
Igo Weli, SPDC director and country business relations director, notes: “Revamping the hospital is not enough but ensuring that the managers sustain a maintenance culture that keeps the hospital in good service shape at all times,” noted Igo Weli, SPDC’s Director and Country Head, Corporate Relations, in his goodwill message at the reopening ceremonies of Edagberi Cottage Hospital, Ahoada West Local Government area of Rivers State. He further emphasized the need for collaboration between the community and hospital management to ensure availability and continued community service.
The 20-bed hospital that was devastated by floods in 2012 has been in ruins ever since. A breath of fresh air for the multi-million naira facility, and the community, came through the intervention of the NNPC/SPDC/Total energies/NAOC joint venture, making the reopening possible in July.
Speaking on the occasion, through the Medical Director of the Rivers State Health Management Board, Dr Bright Ogbonda, who represented her, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, River State Health Commissioner, described the intervention by Shell and its joint venture partners is commendable and will provide medical assistance to the community and surrounding areas.
She said: “Shell and its partners, particularly the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, have proved that they really value their hosts in the scheme of things and for which reason we thank the joint venture for coming to the aid of government to revamp the hospital”
Lending his voice to the joint effort, SPDC’s Community Health Manager, Dr. Akin Fajola commented that the close collaboration between state governments, community leaders and venture partners helped the project succeed. He went further to advocate for closer cooperation between the community and the SPDC for a peaceful environment and further development of host communities in the Niger Delta regions.
Among the many dignitaries that embraced the occasion was the traditional ruler of Edagberi, King Sunny Ubele Okilomakie.
More than 700 people benefited from health outreach as part of the reopening program. Outreach services include surgical services, consultation and general treatment, pharmaceutical services, laboratory services including grouping and cross-matching, blood banking for transfusion, emergency care, and immunization services.
Edagberi Cottage Hospital is one of five such facilities and other social investment projects, supported by joint venture partnerships in the state. A standard laboratory, blood bank, diagnostic center, maternity ward, among other things, including staff accommodation and ambulance were provided during the renovation.
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