The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has donated hospital equipment worth over N34,034,000 ($221,000) to the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt.

The equipment which includes a 3-D Aloka Echocardiogram Ultrasound machine, a Quinton Q-Stress ECG Tread-mill machine and Life Window Cardiac monitors were handed over to the management of the hospital by the General Manager, External Relations of NLNG, Ms Siene Allwell-Brown at a ceremony in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Speaking at the occasion, Allwell-Brown noted that the provision of the equipment was necessitated by the need for quality medical facilities in the state raised during a visit on Governor Chibuike Amaechi in 2008 by the management of the company.

She emphasized that the concern for quality health care delivery which is the fundamental goal of the state government enabled the company to intensify effort to provide the facilities for the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital, which is serving as one specialist hospital of repute in the state.

Speaking earlier while receiving the equipment, the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker called for deliberate partnership of the multinationals operating in the state with the government in providing quality healthcare delivery to the people .

According to the Commissioner, NLNG activities has gone beyond mere corporate social responsibility having shown good faith with the Rivers State Ministry of Health in reasoning together to provide the needed facilities in the hospitals, stressing that the Bonny General Hospital has almost been taken over by the company via its support and up-grade programme to a very high standard.

He commended the company for taking another initiative to donate the heart diagnosis machines which would help reduce oversea trip for medical treatment, emphasizing that NLNG has remained the state’s dependable partner unlike other corporate organizations in the state. He said the company should be satisfied with the contributions made in the State’s health sector, on the strength that a gift to health is a gift to life and a gift to all, noting that the donation was a boost to the hospital which has already obtained post graduate accreditation from the West African College of Surgeons in O & G, radiology, anaesthesia and family medicine which is meant to increase skills and grow the hospital into an undergraduate medical training institution.

In his welcome address, the chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Bernard Aprioku expressed gratitude to the NLNG for the equipment which would enhance the activities of the hospital in providing the best of services especially in helping the hospital to gain full accreditation of the West African College of Medicine. He said this was important in the face of existing monthly statistics of 2,400 anti-natal cases, 6,413 out patient cases, 1153 admissions and 249 surgeries.

The event was witnessed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Anthony Nwaido, Chief Medical Director of the hospital Management Board, Dr. Rogers Weli, the Community Relations Manager of NLNG, Mr. Andy Odeh, Government Relations Manager of NLNG, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke, amongst other heads of department of the Hospital.