NLNG signs MoU with six teaching hospitals, to invest $6m on upgrade of facilities

Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with six teaching hospitals across the six geopolitical zones of the country for implementation of its multi-billion naira Hospital Support Programme (NLNG HSP).

Under the initiative, NLNG will sponsor the development of critical health infrastructure in 12 teaching and tertiary hospitals across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

Beyond the provision of quality medical care for Nigerians, these facilities will enhance the training of medical professionals and contribute to transforming the medical sector.

Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, yesterday, the Managing Director of Nigeria LNG, Dr. Phillip Mshelbila, said the six hospitals were selected as part of the first phase of the NLNG Hospital Support Programme.

He said the initiative is NLNG’s long-term response to the need is identified in the medical sector in 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there was an urgency to upgrade health facilities to contain a surge in the number of patients.

He said NLNG had, at the time, donated medical equipment and consumables worth over N1.4 billion to some federal and state medical institutions in the company’s host communities.

He said the Hospital Support Programme, approved by NLNG Board of Directors, will cost about $500,000 per hospital, with a total outlay of $6 million.

He said: “Specific programmes for the beneficiary institutions will be executed in two phases. For Phase One, the programme will sponsor renovation and re-equipping of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Ward (Block C) at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos State.”

“At the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, we shall sponsor construction and equipping of a modern Maternity and Child Complex, while at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) Kano, the programme will deliver an Occupational Therapy and Neuromodulation Rehabilitation Centre.

“For University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin, Edo State, our target is to achieve the remodelling and conversion of an existing building into a 15-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU). For the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the programme will provide a six-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with four-bed renal dialysis connected to the existing operating theatre.

“And lastly, in Phase One, the project will provide a Neuro-Surgical Centre for the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Cross Rivers State.

“The other six university teaching hospitals to benefit from the programme in Phase Two are: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi; Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH); Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi; Federal Medical Centre, Asaba; University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) and University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) in Rivers State.”