Receiving the Terumo Spectria Optia model of the plasma
apheresis machine from the Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company
(SNEPCo) on Friday at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba in Lagos, the
commissioner said the donations and support from Shell companies in Nigeria
under the oil and gas industry intervention programme were huge and worthy of
emulation by other corporate bodies.
The Apheresis machine is used for the collection
and automatic separation of donor blood components such as platelets or plasma,
as well as for the treatment for certain medical conditions in which a part of
the blood that contains disease-provoking elements is removed.
"The friendship, loyalty and support of Shell
companies before and during the COVID-19 period are indeed tremendous and have
really helped Lagos State in repositioning health care delivery to the
people," said Abayomi, adding: "I'm also impressed by your
carbon-sensitive intervention with the provision of renewable solar power for
the state's isolation centre."
Presenting the items, including PCR testing machines,
150KVA generator, an ambulance, ventilators, a 30KVA solar hybrid solution and
loads of medical consumables, Managing Director of SNEPCo, Bayo Ojulari,
described COVID-19 as a global emergency requiring maximum support from
corporate and individual entities to help government in the management of the
challenges posed by the pandemic.
"Lagos being the epicenter puts an enormous
challenge on state resources hence this industry intervention led by the
Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to support as many states as possible
to bring the virus under control," said Ojulari. He commended the state
governor and its executive team for rising up early to put in place measures to
check the spread of the virus in the state.
Also speaking, Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele
Kolo Kyari who was represented by the Manager, Public Affairs Department of the
National Petroleum Investment Management Services, Aliu Ja'afaru, noted that
but for the timely and unrelenting efforts by the state the infection rates in
Nigeria would have been much worse than it was.
Soon after the outbreak of COVID-19 in Nigeria, Shell
companies in Nigeria had provided four vehicles, including fueling and
maintenance to Lagos State to aid in contact tracing. The companies had also
presented vehicles, ambulances, ventilators, PCR Machines and tons of medical
consumables to Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Imo and Abia states with plans to extend
the donations to more states.
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