By: Emeka Alex Akwaeze
The Imo state University Teaching Hospital will be hosting a newly Medical Center which is to be constructed by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation in a joint venture partnership with Seplat Petroleum, the construction work which commenced in a groundbreaking ceremony by the Executive Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma , the cater is meant for infectious disease control within the state and it’s environs.
The Governor in His opening remark assured the people of Imo State that the long awaited permanent solution to effective treatment of infectious diseases is now made available for the people of Imo people, he further assured the people of Imo state that lives will be saved through the facility and the people of Imo state will have a healthier living when fully completed, he also stated that the current pandemic is a dreadful infectious disease with no cure at the moment, stressing that the pandemic has thought a very good lesson which is never allowed to be caught napping by any known or unknown infectious disease which could be curable or incurable, as such the present measure in building this facility which is aimed at containing 200 bed emergency in addition with the infectious disease medical Centre.
The governor who could not hide his appreciation to the commander in chief, President Buhari, who he affirmed this initiative gave rise to the Nigeria oil and gas sector, ably led by the Nigerian National Petroleum corporation in conjunction with Seplat Petroleum and Imo State Government in the construction of the medical facility, its hoped when fully completed familiar and mysterious infectious disease, such a coronavirus, Ebola, Cholera etc. will easily be controlled and checked promptly.
In a swift reaction the minister of petroleum resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva, restated Government Position in the project stressing that the project is among the three categories of the oil and gas industry’s intervention which is aimed in assisting the six geo political zones of the states within the country, aimed at curbing the coronavirus pandemic in the country, with focus in providing qualitative medical infrastructural, he further noted that the whole of these effort is anchored with key players in the oil and gas industry both within and international.
In a similar development the Chairman of Seplat Petroleum in person of ABC Orjiako, stated that the project was as a result of the NNPC collaboration with the Seplat petroleum Ltd in supporting the efforts of the Imo state Government in enhancing the state health facilities cum management of the current coronavirus pandemic in addition to making the center a hub for the treatment of all kind of infectious disease thereby providing succor to all the people of Imo state and its neighbor, thanking the Governor of the State, His Excellency Hope Uzodimma for the provisional of the enabling environment in which Seplat petroleum operate in the state, assuring the Governor of the continuing support in providing its corporate social responsibility for the state which will have meaningful impacts to everyone in the state.
While the group managing director of the NNPC Melekyari in his remark described Imo State as the most nonviolent area in the operation for the Oil and gas industry within Nigeria, stressing that they have been mandated by the president to use the opportunity to make sure that Imo State is well project with a promise of siting a modular refinery within the State.
