COVID-19: NDDC donates medical equipment, consumables to A/ Ibom

The Akwa Ibom state government has received medical equipment and other consumables from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to assist in fighting coronavirus pandemic in the state.

Medical equipment received include ventilators, ECG machines, infra-red thermometers, infusion pumps, standard hospital beds, mobile dialysis machines, arterial blood gas machines and mobile ultrasound machines while consumables were set syringes , needles, cotton wools and others.

Presenting the items to the state government in Uyo on Tuesday, the acting Managing Director of the NDDC interim management committee, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei  said the commission was committed to assisting states in the Niger Delta  region to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ponder, who was represented by the Akwa state NDDC Director, Mr. Obot Udoete said the commission was fulfilling its mandate to intervene and partner the state governments in the region in the battle against the pandemic.

“The NDDC appreciates the near overwhelming impact of the COVID -19 pandemic and that is why the commission considered it urgent to supply the medical equipment to the nine states in the Niger Delta region,” Ponder stated.

He assured the state government of the good intentions of the interim management committee of NDDC which he said would ultimately translate to more robust interventionist projects and programmes for the state.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, who received the items on behalf of Governor Udom Emmanuel, appreciated the NDDC for the gesture.

Ekuwem maintained that the medical equipment and consumables supplied by the commission were in line with Governor Emmanuel’s strategy at tackling the ravaging coronavius pandemic.

“The governor pays a high premium on the well-being of the Akwa Ibom people and as such these medical supplies would go a long way to add to what the state government has already put on ground in its aggressive fight against COVID19 pandemic,” he said.

He conveyed the governor’s appreciation of the medical supplies by the NDDC and promised to put the items to good use.

Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, observed that there was need for every agency of government to join hands in the fight against COVID- 19.

He lauded the NDDC management for the donation and assured that the equipment will be directly deployed to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.