News
Medshare Donates Two Hi-Tech Heart, Lung Machines To UPTH
A non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in the United States of America, the management of Medshare International, has donated two hi-tech heart and lung machines to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) to kick-start heart and lung surgeries.
Medshare International in partnership with the management of Coca Cola Nigeria also donated two 40 feet container loads of medical equipment focused on neo-natal and maternal equipment to the hospital.
The partners estimated the value of the medical equipment to be over $1million intervention.
Speaking at the launch of the Safe Birth Initiative (SBI) in UPTH at the weekend, Director, Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability, Onyenelukwe Nwamaka, said the medical equipment were funded by Coca Cola Nigeria, and donated by its partner, Medshare international to UPTH.
Nwamaka said the Safe Birth Initiative was a Coca Cola Nigeria Initiative launched in 2018 in Nigeria to strengthen the healthcare system across the country.
She said UPTH was amongst the eight hospitals that the programmehas been launched in Nigeria.
Nwamaka noted that the aims of SBI launching in hospitals was to save the lives of the babies and their mothers during child delivery.
The public affairs manager insisted that six more hospitals would soon be visited by the company for same launching.
She listed the next hospitals the SBI would launch as Lagos Teaching Hospital, Bauchi Teaching Hospital and others.
Nwamaka regretted that the negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic affected the launching in the chosen hospitals across the country.
On the medical equipment, Nwamaka said Medshare was training Biomedical engineers and technicians from UPTH to repair and install the surgery machines.
“Medshare is transferring the skills to Biomedical engineers and technicians to update them on the repairs and installations of the equipment”.
She further said, during their NEEDS assessment, Coca Cola discovered that so many medical equipment in Nigerian hospitals were obsolete and out of use.
She insisted that Medshare decided to repair the machines and put them to use again in the hospitals to save the lives of babies and their mothers.
“So, the Medshare is repairing, training Bio medical engineers and technicians and recycling the obsolete equipment in these hospitals as to put them to use again “, Nwamaka said.
Speaking at the launch, Chief Medical Director, UPTH, Prof Henry Ugboma, thanked the Federal Ministry of Health and the Office of Senior Special Assistant to Mr President on Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) for ensuring that UPTH was one of the beneficiaries of the programme initiated by Coca Cola with Medshare International.
Ugboma said it gladdened his hearts that SBI was funded to support the fight against high maternal and new-born mortalities in Nigeria.
The CMD said the choice of UPTH was one of the best decisions taken by government to champion the SBI programmes.
He also expressed happiness that Bio medical engineers and technicians from the hospital were being trained by Medshare to handle repairs and installation of the hi-tech equipment.
The professor noted that over 1,200 pregnant mothers visit the Ante-Natal Clinic monthly, but only about 150 deliverieswere recorded each month.
He further said that UPTH houses an inborn Special Baby Care Unit (SCBU) of 21-bed space, seven incubators and an out-born SCBU of 10 cots and six incubators providing the needed care for babies.
UPTH, Ugboma said, would continue to uphold the vision of the hospital as a first-rate, world-class hospital as it serves humanity.
Certificates were presented to the 55 trained Bio medical engineers and technicians from UPTH by the Director, Medshare International, Ebel Armstrong.
By: Chinedu Wosu
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
News
We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
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?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
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?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
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?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
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?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
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?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
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?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
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?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
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