By Thompson ABISOLA
The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is targeting thousands of men, women and children in Rivers State in its free medical outreach aimed at preventing, detecting and treating various ailments in the state.
SPDC’s General Manager, External Relations, Mr Igo Weli, launched the programme in Obite in Rivers on Monday for six communities in Assa-Obite pipeline right of way.
Weli, represented by SPDC’s External Relations Manager, Land East, Dr Chibuzo Anyim, said thousands of Nigerians have benefitted from the Shell Community Care Programme since its launch a decade ago.
“In the last eight years, over 610,000 persons have benefitted from the programme including commercial road transport and tanker drivers in the Niger Delta.
“What distinguishes this programme and makes it so popular and accepted is that doctors come to the doorsteps of the recipients with promotional, preventive to curative health services.
“As a company, we are passionate about health and safety as well as committed to the people in the communities we operate. We uphold a maxim of ‘we care’ in our business.
Weli said beneficiaries would be screened for cervical and breast cancer, dental and eye care and cardio-vascular issues while testing, counselling and treatment would be performed for minor chronic ailments.
Weli identified communities to benefit from the medical outreach as Egita, Obite, Akpata, Ohiaugo, Egbeda and Ikiri, all in Emohua and Ogba-Egbema Local Government Areas of Rivers.
He said the exercise was part of the company’s commitment to advance relations and sustain its corporate social responsibility with its host communities.
“Also, it is not uncommon to see people turn to unproven alternative treatments or wait for their conditions to degenerate into serious medical conditions before seeking help.
“So, with the presence of our doctors in the benefitting communities, we expect everyone to take advantage of the opportunity by presenting themselves for screening and treatment.
“To this end, our presence today in Rivers State is part of a broader care agenda to our major stakeholders in project communities.
Weli said Assa-Obite pipeline was an integral part of Assa North-Ohaji South Development Project that marks a major expansion of Nigeria’s gas production.
The general manager said the move was part of a strategy to support the Federal Government’s natural gas master plan aspirations through the development of reservoirs in the Assa-Ohaji fields in Imo.
The Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government, Mr Ifeanyi Odili, thanked SPDC for organising the medical outreach and urged the communities to cooperate with multinational oil companies in the area.
