Two years after Airtel Nigeria renovated and commissioned the Ward A Block at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Carl Cruz, has expressed happiness of the telecommunications firm that the facility had been serving its intended purpose.

Cruz made the assertion during an inspection of the building by Airtel leadership, which also included Airtel Africa Non-Executive Directors.

The CEO, in a statement, yesterday, said: “We are pleased to observe that the collaboration with LUTH has continued to touch the lives of so many Nigerians. The outstanding leadership of LUTH also deserves our commendation for how well they have kept the equipment and building for the past two years. Their approach is worthy of emulation.”

Recall that in 2021, Airtel embarked on an extensive renewal project at LUTH, investing N200 million to renovate and upgrade the medical equipment and physical architecture of Ward A, a general ward, at the institution.

This recent visit, which was to assess the continued impact of the structure, also provided an opportunity for the Airtel executive team to engage with hospital’s management, staff and patients to evaluate how significantly the equipment and building have enhanced service delivery.

During the reception, Cruz reiterated Airtel’s commitment to impacting communities and improving the lives of the less advantaged.
Acting Chief Medical Director, Prof. Lanre Adeyemo, reflected on the hospital’s journey since the renovation, noting the donation was a significant contribution to LUTH’s development.

“The impact of Airtel’s intervention is very visible,” he said: adding: “Airtel has become a model of corporate social responsibility to other organisations that have also been inspired to take up projects in LUTH. Before Airtel’s renovation, Ward A, which had not seen any major renovation since it was built in 1962, was the worst of the blocks.”

Adeyemo noted that since the intervention two years ago, LUTH, which operates on a tripod of patient care, research and training, has had over 800 inpatients, while training several nurses, doctors and dentists during the period.