Firm hands over renovated hospital to Delta govt

The Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, operators of OML30 in Delta State, on Tuesday handed over the renovated and upgraded Erhoike-Kokori Cottage Hospital to Delta State Health Management Board “to boost primary healthcare for residents of 23 host communities around Kokori oilfield”.

The intervention comprised a physical upgrade of the hospital building by roofing, major facelift, refurbishment of the hospital’s ambulance, as well as revamping the Drug Revolving Fund with seed drug value and procurement of some laboratory and medical equipments.

The HEOSL General Manager, Govt, Joint Venture & External Relations, Mr. Adesola Adebawo, while speaking at the ceremony stated that the renovation and upgrade of the cottage hospital situated in Erhoike-Kokori Community in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State was part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to its host communities.

The renovation and upgrade project, he explained, cost the oil firm hundreds of millions of naira just as he noted that the hospital’s functional capacity has been diminished by inadequate maintenance and funding challenges, over the years.

He, however, affirmed that the oil firm and joint venture partners took step to help restore the hospital to its former glorious days by helping to reinforce its capacity to continue providing sustainable healthcare support to the host communities.

He charged the communities to maintain a peaceful environment for smooth operations, make judicious use of the equipment so as to attract more development to the community.

According to him, the oil company has consistently funded its GMoU commitments since 2018 when it took over the operations of OML30 asset, with an annual fund of N1.4billion as at this year.

“To date, a total of N6.63billion has been paid as GMoU mandate funds in support of various community development initiatives across OML30,” he stated.

The OML30 Asset Manager, NNPC Exploration & Production Limited, Umar Daneji, represented by Oghenero Omawhare, and Mrs. Lara Coker, General Manager, External Relations, Shoreline Natural Resources Limited, also urged the stakeholders to continue to create peaceful and enabling operating environment to attract more benefits to all the host communities in the OML30 asset.

Responding, the President General of Erhioke Community, Chief Lucky Udjemu and the Chief Medical Doctor of the Cottage Hospital Erhioke, Dr. Onomor Louis, expressed gratitude to HEOSL and the Joint Venture Partners of NNPC Exploration & Production Limited, and Shoreline Natural Resources Limited for the renovation and upgrade of the Cottage Hospital.