The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, will soon commence
distribution of vaccines, medical and waste management equipment to
states in the Niger Delta region.
This was disclosed by the NDDC Acting Director Finance and
Administration, EDFA, Dr Chris Amadi, when he led some directors on an
inspection visit to the Commission’s warehouses in Port Harcourt.
Dr Amadi, who decried the depreciating state of some of the items in
the warehouses, said that the equipment would be put in order for
distribution to the appropriate end users. He stated: “I have directed
that the waste trucks and medical boats be maintained as soon as
possible for subsequent distribution to the various states.”
He explained that the locations where the items were to be distributed
had already been compiled and sharing exercise would commence within
this month.
In one of the warehouses in Trans Amadi area of Port Harcourt, the
Acting Executive Director Finance and Administration inspected
solar-powered refrigerators for vaccines which he assured would be
distributed to communities in the region as soon as possible.
He said that the Director of Education, Health and Social Services,
EHSS, had been mandated to kick start the process for the
distribution.
Responding to the directive, an Assistant Director in the EHSS
directorate, Dr George Uzornwanne listed some of the supplies procured
by the Commission to include, medical waste incinerators, solar-driven
refrigerators, vaccines, waste management trucks, agricultural
tractors and refuse bins.
He stated that it was the second set of such procurement the
commission was distributing in the last two years, noting that those
that were procured two years ago were distributed to states ministries
of health. He added that they would also be given the new set to help
in improving immunization exercises in communities.
Dr Uzornwanne explained that the incinerators would help in combating
pollution and infections associated with medical waste disposal in the
region. He stated: “We have not had any functional one in the Niger
Delta region and we received a lot of requests over the years to
procure this essential equipment.”
He said further: “There are two medical ambulances and the EDFA has
directed that they be given to the Rivers State Ministry of Health to
help the people of the state, especially in the riverine areas that do
not have access to immediate health care.”