NNPC/Seplat JV Records Milestones in Eye Care CSR Programme

By Tony Icheku, Owerri

Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation and SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc, NNPC/Seplat Energy JV kicked-off its signature Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR healthcare programme on Thursday in Owerri, Imo State with the objectives of screening 3,000 persons, performing 150 cataract surgeries and providing 2000 reading glasses.

The programme themed the ‘Eye Can See’ which held at Full Moon Hotel aims to ensure the provision of free eye care, visual aid and surgical treatment for cataract within NNPC/SEPLAT operational communities.

In her remarks at the opening ceremony, Managing Director, Seplat East Onshore Limited, Mrs. Ibi-Ada Itotoi explained that the company conceptualised the healthcare programmme as an annual event to help people live in good health, adding that the project is SEPLAT’s way of saying thank you to it’s host communities.

She urged the communities to continue to partner with SEPLAT to enable it contribute better to the economy

The SEPLAT boss added that the programme was in line with the company’s support for the Sustainable Development Goal, SDGs 3, purposed to deliver Good Health and Well Being, to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing of all at all ages.

In her remarks at the occasion, representative of NNPC, Mrs Roseline Halimat described the medical outreach as one designed towards promoting healthy living at oil producing communities in Imo State. She added that the NNPC is sensitive to the social, economic plights and health of the people, and urged oil companies to make sure that they give back to host communities, noting that SEPLAT has been adding values to humanity.

Speaking about the programme, one of the beneficiaries, Kelechi Onyinwoka who had eye operation applauded SEPLAT and NNPC for giving them the chance to access free medication, adding that the health programmme have been beneficial to many

“Before my eye surgery on Tuesday in Owerri, they carried out a test on BP and Blood Group. They have placed us on drugs for two weeks. I can see clearly now. SEPLAT and NNPC are doing well to help indigent persons live soundly. I pray that they sustain and intensify the humanitarian services to save more lives, relieve many from excruciating pain arising from ill health”, the beneficiary reiterated.

Other objectives of the Eye Can See initiative include to provide free optical treatment at all levels to members of the communities, reduce cases of permanent loss of vision, and treat other related eye problems, educate patients on ways to care for the eyes and how to detect glaucoma and also educate patients on lifestyle changes required to reduce the rates of hypertension and diabetes.

According to a release from the company, the initiative which commenced 12 years ago has delivered 96,411 eye treatments, dispensed 45,074 reading glasses and performed 4,218 surgeries. In the JV’s Eastern Asset, where the programme was introduced in 2017, 16,546 persons have been screened, 7,737 Eye glasses dispensed and 577 surgeries performed.

Present at the event include Dr. Henry Okafor, Imo State Commissioner at the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC; Mr Bala M.Wunti of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services, NUIMS and several others.