WARRI – Chevron Nigeria Limited(CNL) has donated a 45- Bed space Cottage Hospital to the Bayelsa State Government as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, under the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) between the company, Bayelsa State Government and Dodo River communities .
Describing the GMoU as a veritable tool for achieving the United Nations sustainable Development Goals in the Niger Delta, Chairman of the Dodo River Communities Development Rural Development Association (DRDA) ,one of the Regional Development Committees under the GMoU, Mr.Berry Negerese, emphasised the importance of the GMoU at sustaining the development of the communities in the Niger Delta , stating that, the community engagement model pioneered by Chevron, has engendered capacity building for communities to own and operate their development process in participatory and transparent manner.
While thanking the Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Seriake Dickson for the successful takeover of the hospital, he commended the efforts of Chief .Hon. Fredrick Yeiteimone Agbedi, representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency in the National Assembly who was also present at the occasion, as well as other stakeholders in facilitating the successful State’s takeover of the facility.
According to him, the 45 – Bed hospital has a medical laboratory, pharmacy store, operating room, Doctors , Nurses and Medical Corps’ lodge, delivery room, postnatal room, functional water system, ambulance, 50KVA generating plant with a generator house and a jetty.
The hospital is also connected to the community’s 1OOKVA generator.
In his address, the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA), at Mr. Esimaje Brikinn, while commending the State Government, described it’s action as a progression of the GMoU and a way of helping Nigeria meet its sustainable development Goals.
He said, ” This project addresses one of the three targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) and is a validation of the sustainability plan of the GMoU.”
Speaking further, Mr. Brikinn said, since 2005, when CNL pioneered the GMoU as a community led participatory partnership model for community engagement and sustainable development, the company continues to contribute funding (running into billions of naira) to the Regional Development Committees (RDCs) that represent the communities in its areas of operations to execute hundreds of projects in the communities through a governance model that ensures transparency and accountability.
“The projects which cover the areas of education, health, housing, scholarships, economic development etc., have benefited over 600,000 people and assisted in enhancing the quality of life in these communities.” He noted.
Representative of the Bayelsa State Governor, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu applauded CNL for contributing to improved medical care in dodo river communities of the state, and pledged the state Government’s commitment at ensuring that adequate and capable hands will be posted to the facility and officials from the State Ministry of Health will pay frequent visits to ascertain the state of the Cottage Hospital and possible areas of improved services.
The Pere of Iduwini Kingdom, HRM Joel .Esimaje. Ubane, also appreciated Chevron for the GMoU and charged all stakeholders on the need to ensure that the aim of providing the facility is fully achieved
