The Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, has said that it would continue to pursue innovative ways in caring for the health, wellbeing and safety of people within its areas of operation.
SPDC Director and Head, Corporate Relations, Igo Weli, stated this during the flag off of a three-day free medical outreach tagged: ‘Health-in-Motion’ in Elelenwo community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Weli said the programme was part of the company’s social investment interventions in communities, adding that the outreach in Elelenwo was in continuation of its ‘health-in-motion’ programme delivered in Rumuolokwu communities in August 2023.
He added, “This edition of the programme also incorporates Shell’s award-winning ‘Vision First Initiative’, to provide comprehensive eye care services to the people of Elelenwo community.
“The vision first initiative is also a community-focused eye care programme that supports efforts in the elimination and prevention of treatable blindness among people in host communities.
“Cumulatively, it has reached 2,671 visually impaired individuals, provided corrective lenses to 1,253 with refractive errors, completed 254 successful ophthalmic surgeries and trained 30 vision finders in communities in the Niger Delta (Bayelsa and Rivers) and over 27 communities in Lagos State.”
Weli added, “SPDC values the health and safety of individuals who work with or around us and we have resolved to continue to pursue innovative ways to provide care to people in the areas where we operate.
“Our philosophy is that ‘health is your true wealth,’ ‘and a healthy population will continue to be productive,’ resulting in the overall well-being of society.”
Noting that the medical outreach will run for three days – November 28 to 30, he said that the oil and gas firm is providing services ranging from promotional preventive to curative care.
He averred, “We hope that by doing this, we will be able to support the Rivers State government’s efforts at all levels to provide accessible healthcare to the people.”
He listed some of the services to include: cardiovascular screening, consultation and treatment of mild chronic diseases, dental care, deworming, breast and cervical cancer screening, laboratory and pharmaceutical services among others.
Speaking, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, lauded Shell for taking free healthcare to the doorsteps of Rivers people.
Represented by Dr (Mrs) Aziemeola Pius, she said that the individual vision plays a crucial role in every facet of life, adding that the leading cause of vision impairment and blindness is ‘uncorrected refractive errors cataracts.’
“A significant part of these cases go untreated due to inaccessible eye care services and lack of awareness of where to seek services.
She, therefore, called on SPDC to extend the gesture to other communities in the state.
