Navy Takes Delivery of $1.2m Medical Equipment from US

Chiemelie Ezeobi

The Nigerian Navy (NN) Medical Services yesterday took delivery of medical equipment worth about $1.2 million, even as it pledged some part to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-east.

Among the donated equipment and medical supplies were microscopes, opthalmoscope, thermometers, nebulizer, centrifuge, stethoscope and many others.

Facilitated by MedShare International, a non-governmental organisation, the items were handed over to the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas, by the company’s representative, Mr. Ephraim Inameti.

The handover which was done at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Ojo, Lagos, was witnessed by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command, Rear Admiral Ifeola Mohammed and his Western Naval Command counterpart, Rear Admiral Ferguson Bobai, who was represented by the fleet commander.

Others present were the Director Medical Services, Rear Admiral Edward Enechukwu and the Commander Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Calabar, Rear Admiral Abubakar Yusuf and other senior officers.
In his speech, the CNS, who was represented by the Chief of Administration, Rear Admiral Henry Babalola, said the medical equipment would be distributed across all navy’s medical facilities to enhance medical care delivery.

He said, “The Nigerian Navy has always considered the health and well-being of its personnel as key to the optimum fulfillment of its constitutional roles. It is for this reason that the Navy established its own hospitals and medical centres across various commands of the Nigerian Navy.

“These hospitals and medical centres have expanded their services from catering for naval personnel and families to also providing for the general public.
“The collaboration between the Navy and Medshare International, United States, was one of the initiatives I put in place to bridge the equipment and consumable short fall in the navy medical service.

“This equipment handed over today would be distributed across all navy medical facilities and some to the Internally Displaced Persons especially in the North-eastern part of the country.”
According to the company, the donation was part of efforts to improve the health of personnel in discharge of their constitutional roles. Inameti, who handed over the equipment, said the medical supplies and equipment was worth $1.2m, if bought wholesale in the United States.

He said, “Total shipment exceeded 36,500kg of vital medical materials, which will strengthen healthcare in Nigeria via the treatment provided by the navy hospitals across the country. Although the navy selected online only supplies it needed, however, there was no dumping of supplies by the US.

“The navy applied for and received 24 Hill-Rom Advanta, 26 Skyler S2 hospital beds with mattresses, 40ft containers representing about 4, 000 boxes of brand new medical supplies. It also received about 120 pieces of medical equipment. Also, a special two-week training for doctors and technicians has been scheduled this month, to ensure the 120 pieces of biomedical equipment was sustained.
“I also appeal to the Naval Headquarters to put in place permanent template for managing these supplies from the central store to the unit level”, he added.