RSG, LG Synergy On Obio Hospital Excites Shell

The proactive synergy between the Rivers State Government and Obio/Akpor Local Government Council to ensure effective and efficient healthcare service delivery in Obio Cottage Hospital has excited the management of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC).

The Regional Manager, Community Health, SPDC, Dr Babatunde Fakunle, who expressed the company’s satisfaction with the thriving partnership, during the first-ever clients’-focused public health enlightenment programme at Obio Cottage Hospital, last Saturday, said Shell was encouraged by the development to continue to support the hospital to provide world-class healthcare delivery service to the people of the Industrial Area Cluster Development area under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU).

Fakunle noted that the response of both the present Rivers State Government and Obio/Akpor Council to the needs of the hospital has been outstanding, stressing that this has resulted in the successful kick-off and implementation of the first-ever community health insurance scheme in Nigeria for clients within the four cluster communities of Rumuobiokani, Oginigba, Rumuomasi and Rumuoleulu.

He thanked the cluster communities for not just being part of history in the success story but the more than 4,000 clients of the CHIS in the hospital for volunteering to avail themselves of the quality healthcare services provided by the hospital.

The Shell manager also commended the doctors, nurses and other ancillary staff of the hospital for working together to improve the quality of healthcare services to the people of the area, and pledged the commitment of the multinational oil and gas giant to sustain its support to the hospital to enable it meet the healthcare needs of patients.

Fakunle further lauded the Obio Hospital team for organising the client-focused public health enlightenment programme for mostly mothers and children, and expressed satisfaction with the quality of topics and the exceptional manner in which the doctors presented them to participants at the event.

In his speech, the Chief Medical Director, Obio Cottage Hospital, Dr Chidi Ikekpeazu, said the client-focused public health enlightenment programme was the first in a series of strategic health education initiatives planned to reinvigorate and re-order sound and quality healthcare service delivery in the hospital, noting that the management team was delighted to make a difference by driving the initiative to its logical conclusion.

Ikekpeazu noted that the initiative was aimed at availing clients the opportunity to interface with doctors and nurses in a congenial and friendly atmosphere outside the consulting rooms and wards, saying that it was designed to bring integrated quality healthcare services to all patients.

He expressed delight that the hospital has been in the forefront of good healthcare service delivery for patients who use the services of the hospital, adding that the added products uniquely embedded in the community health insurance scheme have brought fast, affordable and quality healthcare service delivery to clients, and thanked SPDC, Rivers State Government, Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Health Care International and the IA cluster communities for forging a strong  partnership towards actualising the vision of providing good health for the people through a personal healthcare management scheme.

The CMD advised parents and guardians to buy personal and family insurance premiums for secured, hassle-free, cheap and world-class healthcare service delivery for themselves and their children, as well as for posterity, adding that the services provided under the CHIS at the hospital could not be found in any health centre anywhere in the state and across the country.  

Also speaking, Community Health Adviser, SPDC, Dr Akin Fajola, explained that the programme was significant for Shell because it would create a window for patients and doctors and nurses to interact in an open and friendly fashion, with a view to enhancing the quality of services rendered while at the same time opening up the doors of sound healthcare services to potential clients who may not have keyed into the various healthcare schemes run by the hospital to exploit.

At least, five specialist doctors from SPDC, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), and Obio Cottage Hospital delivered talks on various health topics, including community health insurance scheme, HIV/AIDS, dental health, necessity for breastfeeding, good hygiene, and best healthcare practices.