TotalEngeries Upstream Limited in collaboration with Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC)and other partners have donated a Mammography Centre to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia to enable the fight against Cancer.
The managing director/chief executive officer, TotalEngeries Upstream Nigeria Limited, Mattieu Bouyer while handing over the facility to the Teaching Hospital on Tuesday in Lafia said, the completion and commissioning of the project is in furtherance of the corporate social responsibility initiatives of the deep water operations.
Bouyer explained that the facility was among 84 infrastructural projects it had unveiled since 2016 using its novel approach of “project managers”, that delivers projects in remote and challenging environments using local expertise and stakeholder engagement.
He said,”The completion and donation of this mammography centre clearly illustrates our deep commitment to support the ongoing global fight against cancer. This is even more evident in our recent endorsement of the #WorkingWithCancer movement, an international partnership with other companies promoting a more supportive culture focused on recovery and job retention for collaborators affected by cancer.
“The designation of October 2024 as ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month’ further highlights our readiness at TotalEnergies to continue drawing attention to this problem.
“Specifically, the donation of this mammography centre to the people of Nasarawa State was borne out of the need to detect breast and other forms of cancer early, reduce the fatality risk, and mitigate the gaps in access to qualitative healthcare in that region of Nigeria. Over 120,000 new cancer cases are recorded annually in Nigeria, according to a December 2023 report by the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment.
“We are committed to changing that situation, and that is why we have delivered this project, which we strongly believe will provide access to affordable early diagnosis and detection, aid the prompt treatment and follow-up of patients and ultimately save lives.”
The MD lauded the federal government’s bold move to immediately recognise the formerly State owned health centre to become a Federal University Teaching Hospital due to the donation of the fully equipped mammography centre.
He also appreciated their partners for providing the resources for the development of projects across the country.
He, therefore assured of their continued support towards impacting positively on host communities and the nation at large through life-changing initiatives.
In his remarks, the governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, represented by his deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe said the state government has prioritised the health needs of its citizens, hence its investment in both the Primary care tertiary health care delivery.
Sule who commended TotalEngeries Upstream Limited alongside its partners for providing the facility in the State said his administration would continue to partner relevant bodies to promote the healthcare system.
“We have continued to develop the health sector to address the health needs of the person at the grassroots. We have also keyed into the Health Insurance scheme and has developed a drug supply management agency to provide drugs and other related services to our people.
“ We are also placing a premium on human capital development to provide manpower,” he said.
He therefore thanked President Bola Tinubu for converting the state health facility to become a Federal University Teaching Hospital, saying the development would promote more access to healthcare services in the State.
Also speaking, the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage (Rtd) appreciated Governor Sule for his efforts that enabled the conversion of DASH to a Teaching Hospital.
He thanked TotalEngeries and their partners for providing the facility to the people saying “on behalf of the people of the state, I want to thank you for giving out your corporate responsibility and we promise to take care of the facility.”
On his part, the acting chief medical doctor, CMD of the hospital, Dr Ikrama Hassan thanked TotalEngeries and its partners for siting this project in the state.
Hassan said it will reduce the scourge of breast cancer in the State and save patients the stress of going to other states to get treatment.
He equally thanked Governor Sule for providing a conducive environment at the hospital that attracted the sitting of the project at the Teaching Hospital.
