By Timothy Ekpo/ Uduak Akai
UYO
Akwa Ibom State Governor has said that the NNPC/Seplat Energy health programme was a timely life line for families and individuals whose aspirations have been truncated by visual impairment.
Pastor Umo Eno stated this at the launch of NNPC/ Seplat Energy Plc joint venture “Eye Can See”, programme which recently took place in Uyo, the state capital.
Represented by the State Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, the governor applauded the initiative of the Chief Executive Officer, SEPLAT Energy, Engr. Effiong Okon, for conceptualizing and implementing this important humanitarian programme in Akwa Ibom.
The Eye Can See programme is designed to address Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promotes well-being for all by the year 2030.
Eno who stated that the project is in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 3, noted that without sound health, education was impossible, economic development is unattainable, good infrastructure is meaningless, gender equality, inconsequential, availability of clean drinking water held little appeal, suitable climate do not mean much and the desire for justice takes the back seat.
”The foregoing places in appropriate context, this NNPC/Seplat Joint Venture Eye Can See Programme as a timely lifeline for many individuals and families whose aspirations have been cut short; whose lives are on an avoidable standstill; whose potential has been locked up and whose productivity has been withheld by visual impairment caused by cataract”, he stated.
He told the gathering that the the Nigeria National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey attributes about 43 per cent of the causes of blindness in the country to cataract, adding that the figure was significant enough to provoke the intervention done by SEPLAT.
The state chief executive officer explained that incidentally there were various cases of avoidable blindness, especially where medical attention was timeously sought and obtained, but indeed heartbreaking that many destinies have been destroyed by this preventable and curable ailment.
He noted that to underscore the importance of sight, Jesus Christ in his three and a half years of His ministry, restored the sight of eight individuals, making blindness the ailment with the highest number of miraculous interventions during his short earthly project
Eno pointed out that It was in recognition of the centrality of total well-being that propelled his administration to prioritize healthcare in the ARISE Agenda, bearing in mind that that a sick populace can neither build an economy nor maximally enjoy government’s investments.
”With the model primary healthcare centres built in all the local government areas of the state, a good health facility is now within the reach of every Akwa Ibom person, especially those resident in rural areas”.
”Realizing that availability doesn’t guarantee both affordability and accessibility, we also introduced the Health Insurance Scheme to solve this problem and provide access to everyone”.
”In other words, the annual subscription rate of this insurance scheme is substantially subsidized by government to make it pocket-friendly enough for the poor in order to help us achieve Universal Health Coverage in the State”
”Of course, one of the landmark initiatives of this administration is the ongoing construction of the ARISE Medical corridor which will accommodate the Ibom International Hospital, Ibom Multi-Specialty Hospital and other World class medical facilities designed to curb outbound medical tourism while redirecting the flow of that traffic to our State”, Eno said.
In complementing government efforts, Eno appreciated Seplat Energy in reaching out to these special individuals with a view to helping them regain their sight, rebuild confidence and reclaim lost potential, adding that in that regard, the state sought the company ‘s partnership in its drive to make Akwa Ibom a destination for medical tourism in Nigeria.
The Chairman of the company, Engr. Effiong Okon said the project was to actualize the commitment Seplat made during a courtesy call to the governor after the acquisition of MPNU by Seplat Energy, to contribute to the development of communities where it operates.
”It will be recalled that on a courtesy visit to the state governor after the acquisition of MPNU by Seplat Energy, I informed him that we, in Seplat Energy, strongly believe in proactively contributing to the development of the communities where we operate”
”I assured him that in taking over responsibility for the asset, we understood that our success in Akwa Ibom, where the asset is located, will be measured by more than safe and efficient operations. It will also be measured by the quality of our relationship with the State, with our host communities and with the institutions that serve them”, Okon remarked.
Okon noted that Seplat was committed towards building harmonious relationship with its host communities based on respect, transparency and consistent performance, knowing that the company must listen, and respond to genuine priorities, and ensure that its presence creates value that people could see and experience in their daily lives.
He stated that Seplat Energy and it’s JV partner, NNPC Limited, social investment was part of responsible business, focused on programmes that respond to identified needs, credible partners, with the potential to deliver lasting benefits.
Okon told the gathering that the programme was to fulfil the promise Seplat made to the Governor, and the people of the State.
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