CSR: NPDC, SEPLAT Renovate Sapele Govt Hospital

BEVERLY HILLS, CA, December 14, (THEWILL) - Seplat Petroleum Development Company in conjunction with its JV partners, Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC ), has inaugurated hospital equipment worth millions of naira at the Sapele General Hospital. The hospital equipment which were installed at the newly renovated female and children ward of the hospital were inaugurated   in  accordance  with the firm's strategy of improving the quality of lives of its host communities. The renovation and donation of the equipment, according to a statement,  was borne out of SEPLAT determination to extend the company's flagship health based corporate social investment programmes to its host communities. In 2011 SEPLAT had launched its "Safe Motherhood" programme, tailored to promote safe delivery and hygienic practices for pregnant mothers even as it educates and equips local birth attendants with relevant skills on modern safe pregnancy and delivery practices. It could be recalled that about 3,000 expectant mothers were provided with ante-natal screening and provided with mosquito nets, nutritional supplements and a ''Safe Motherhood Delivery Bag'' containing items required for delivery by the oil firm. The "Safe Motherhood" programme was inaugurated in tandem with the free maternal health care programme of the Delta State Government for 0-6 years children and mothers . It also enables  the oil company to provide drugs and equipment to several hospitals in its host communities including Oben Cottage Hospital, Ugborhen Hospital among others. Last year, SEPLAT  inaugurated its  "Eye Can See Programme" around March-April to provide optical screening and treatment, including surgeries, to members of the host communities. Over 6,700 patients were tested and screened in eight  locations, 3,000 reading  were provided, 496 cataract surgeries and 22 corrective surgeries were carried out even as 34 cases were referred for specialist care "The project is another demonstration of the company's desire to make quality health care accessible to a broad spectrum of people, particularly women and children in our host communities,   General Manager, Corporate Affairs and New Business Development of the firm, Dr. (Mrs) Chioma Nwachukwu , said. Speaking at the occasion held at the hospital premises,  Nwachukwu said  since inception, the oil firm has shown commitment to its corporate value of maintaining excellent partnership with its host communities. "SEPLAT is glad to be in the forefront of the effort to arrest the high maternal mortality rate in the country and promote safe delivery as well as healthy infants in its host communities," she said . Some of the equipment donated included; Anaesthetic Machines, Oxygen Gauges, Galipot, Pulse Oximaters, Suction Machines, Wheelchairs, Macintosh, Accusson, Dekamet, Sphygmomanometer, X-ray viewing boxes, Complete Oxygen Therapy set, Nebulizers, Suction Nozzle, Hospital Beds and Mattress, Laryngoscopes, Operating Light, Operating Table, 15 KVA generator, among others. Meanwhile, winners have emerged in the SEPLAT/NPDC concluded Pearls Quiz competition for secondary schools in Edo/Delta State. Speaking at the grand finale of the competition held at Okpe Hall, Sapele, SEPLAT's MD/CEO, Mr Austin Avura,  said   the programme was designed to promote healthy competition between private and public schools in its host communities. "The programme is an exceptional platform for promoting healthy competition among private and public schools and a great opportunity to rekindle the spirit of academic excellence while encouraging them to study more passionately and regularly," he said. Avura  who was represented by Mr Bright Oghor at the occasion, said   by rewarding scholastic excellence, the competition provides SEPLAT an opportunity to demonstrate to the youths the benefits of working hard and taking education seriously. According to him, the company has once again demonstrated its commitment to enhancing the quality of education and by extension development human capacity in its areas of operations. Over 900 public and private schools participated in the completion. 44 schools (22 each from Edo and Delta State) qualified for the quarter final stage. The winning school received a brand new school bus and a trophy while the students that represent the schools received scholarship. The first and second runner up schools got a project based cash prize and a trophy while the students were awarded scholarship just as others who made it to qualifying stages also got varying consolation prizes.