Shell Exploration and Production Company Limited has donated a 10-bed capacity paediatric ward to the General Hospital, Jama’are, Bauchi State.
Elohor Aibani, the Managing Director of the company, inaugurated the facility in Jama’are on Wednesday.
Aibani said the project was part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility.
Aibani said the facility was designed with a well-equipped laboratory, 2,000 litre capacity boreholes, solar power panel and water treatment facility.
She said the project was also designed to enhance access to quality healthcare service delivery at the grassroots, adding that the company would not relent in its efforts to add value to the lives of Nigerians.
The project, she said, was conceived and executed in collaboration between the SNEPCO and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation as part of intervention towards promoting children healthcare services.
Earlier, Alhaji Abdullahi Zubairu, Project Manager, Dangaru Global Resource Nigeria Limited, a consulting company that handled the project, commended the management of the hospital and the host community for their cooperation.
He said the paediatric ward housed toilets, consulting room, resting area and a well-furnished injection room.
In a remark, Alhaji Aliyu Gamawa, Director, Research, Planning and Statistics in the Bauchi State Ministry of Health, lauded the gesture, adding that it would enhance healthcare service delivery in the state.
Gamawa described the project as “timely” and called on organisations to emulate the gesture with a view to enhance quality healthcare services in rural communities.
In his remarks, Alhaji Samaila Jarma, Chairman, Jama’are Local Government Council, commended the gesture and promised to ensure effective maintenance of the facility.
Jarma said about 45,000 people in the area would benefit from the project, adding that it would also reduce infant mortality rate.
Also speaking, Dr. Abdullahi Ardo, Chief Medical Director, assured the commitment of the hospital management to ensure effective utilisation of the facility.
According to him, the provision of modern equipment in the laboratory will facilitate conduct of medical analysis at the facility and reduce referral services.