Group donates medical equipment to tackle child mortality in Rivers

The Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), a Niger Delta-based association, has donated five cold chain units to support immunisation programmes in Rivers.

The Executive Director, Gueke Ajaifia, handed over the equipment to the Rivers State Ministry of Health at a brief ceremony in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

Ajaifia who expressed concern over the child mortality rate in the state, said the donation aimed to support the state government’s immunisation programmes.

“Our commitment is to help the state government to provide quality healthcare for residents, particularly those in remote areas.

“The cold chain equipment will ensure proper storage of immunisation vaccines, most importantly to preserve their potency.

“As individual companies, we understand the need to care for the communities around us, a healthy community is essential for business sustainability,” he said.

Ajaifia further said that Rivers, as the hub of the country’s oil and gas sector, deserved such support from the industry.

“While individual companies have been assisting the state government on various fronts, we felt it necessary to support immunisation coverage,” he said.

The executive director commended the Rivers Government for its cooperation with oil and gas firms, during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.

Receiving the donation, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Ureh, commended OPTS for the gesture, and assured that the equipment would be put to proper use.

She highlighted the importance of public private sector partnerships in improving the well-being of Rivers residents.

“One of the areas Gov. Siminalayi Fubara emphasised during the formulation of the Rivers State Healthcare Strategy was fostering result-oriented partnerships.

“As a result, we have witnessed a significant rise in collaborations with private sector entities and development organisations.

“We are pleased that OPTS recognises the extensive work required to address healthcare challenges which cannot be achieved by the government alone,” she said.

The commissioner stated that before the emergence of the Fubara-led administration, mortality rates for infants and children under five years were alarmingly high.

She further said that the situation had improved due to increased immunisation coverage across the state.

“Our goal is to ensure that every child is immunised, and has access to vaccines to protect them from common childhood illnesses that endanger their survival,” she said.