Rotary PORT HARCOURT – The Rotary Club of Port Harcourt, RI District 9140, has set up an accident victims trust fund programme to support accident victims who lack the financial capability to make initial deposits when rushed to the hospital by good Samaritans and security operatives.
The project which was put together to the Rives State chapter of the Road Transport Workers Union and the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH. The club has also set up a cupboard at the casualty ward of the university teaching hospital with supplies of essential drugs.
President of the Rotary club of Port Harcourt, Frank Eni, told journalists, in Port Harcourt, yesterday, at an event to commemorate the 50 years celebration of the club.
Eni stated: “The programme was a response to the frequent deaths of accident victims in the hospital because of lack of emergence drugs and materials. We have also donated oxygen masks and incubators Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH) to provide life support for children born underweight.”
“To address the issue of infant mortality, the club procured Bilirubinmeter for Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH). Bilirubinmeter measures the bilirin, one of the causes of infant mortality in children. To also address the difficulties associated with the treatment of ear, nose and throat ailments, the club donated Adenotensiloctomy set to the ENT department”.
In furtherance of its drive in health awareness campaigns, Eni stressed that the club has also intensified public awareness on the causes of “breast cancer; cervical cancer; prostrate cancer; diabetes; sickle cell anaemia and maternal health”
He said that the Port Harcourt Rotary Club, apart from sponsoring persons with cleft lip/palate and cataract conditions for specialised treatment in Nigerian hospitals have also hugely supported the government in its efforts to eradicate polio in Nigeria.
Eni maintained: “Our members have on a number of occasions joined the medical team of the state government to visit rural areas to immunise children as well as sensitise the populace on the need to get our children immunised”.
He admitted that the inability of the club to openly elicit for members was a major challenge because the norm in rotary is for a member to invite a member and not for a prospective member to personally apply for admission which is slowed down the membership growth in the club.
The district governor, His Royal Magesty, HRM, Noble Eshemitan, enjoined members to strive to give their very best to the growth and development of the club in the state.