#Covid-19: Rivers State Lauds NLNG for support

Chinazor Megbolu

The Commissioner for Health, Rivers State, Professor Princewill Chike has lauded the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), for its support towards helping to alleviate the citizens of the State over the menace of Covid-19 pandemic.

In a statement by NLNG General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Mrs. Eyono Fatayi Williams, the Commissioner applauded the company’s support to the State government in the fight against the dreaded pandemic.

Chike, according to the statement thumbed up the liquefied gas firm during his visit to two health facilities donated by NLNG committed towards curtailing the virus.

The visit to the facilities in Bonny Island the statement pointed out, was to examine and take samples from persons who were alleged to have symptoms consistent with a resistant strain of malaria and typhoid.

Williams maintained the Commissioner also inspected the Holding Centre at NLNG Residential Area Hospital and the Bonny Zonal Hospital Holding Centre, both donated by NLNG.

The statement further hinted that Chike, was not alone but led other delegates to inspect the organisation’s medical facilities and to assess its readiness in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic in Rivers State.

“Professor Chike commended NLNG for being responsive to the needs of the State in the containment efforts against COVID-19 and assured of the State Government’s continuous support for its operations.

“He condemned the use of social media to create unnecessary panic on the Island and urged all those who are in the habit of posting unverified stories on social media to desist from the practice.

“He remarked that health officials were in Bonny to examine and take samples from persons who were alleged to have reported symptoms consistent with a resistant strain of malaria and typhoid, adding that the results will be ready soon.

“He said the causes of malaria and typhoid are well known and advised anyone who feels unwell to visit the hospital for investigation and treatment.

“Unveiling the plaque for the Bonny Zonal Hospital 10-Bed Holding Centre to formally declare it open for public use, he described it as a well-equipped centre that can be upgraded to a treatment centre in the future.

“The Commissioner stated that the facilities were adequate for handling any Covid-19 case ahead of evacuation to a designated treatment facility,” Williams said.

The General Manager, Production, NLNG, Mr. Adebayo Falade, who welcomed the Commissioner and his entourage earlier,stated that the holding centres were part of the NLNG’s response to Covid-19 and thanked the State Government for supporting the actions meant to help manage the pandemic.

He also noted that the company’s contribution to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic is in line with its vision of “…helping to build a better Nigeria”.

Other programs to boost the healthy well-being of residents of Bonny Island include the Bonny Malaria Eradication Programme, instituted in 2019 to reduce malaria-related mortality among women and children between the ages of zero to five and to make Bonny Island Nigeria’s first malaria-free zone, and the Bonny Community Health Insurance Programme, a scheme set up to ease financing and access to quality health care on the Island.

Falade, however, hinted that about 1,393 residents have enrolled in the insurance scheme.