By Davies Iheamnachor

THE University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH, has received medical equipment for its new Assisted Reproductive Unit, ARU, designed to enable couples having challenges of infertility give birth to children.

UPTH had planned to start up the new unit but was confronted with financial challenges and had requested organizations, well meaning individual for assistance. Some of facilities received, hospital beds, theatre gowns, visual aids and others the items that worth millions were donated in line with the request.

Receiving the facilities from Sterling Bank Plc, the Chief Medical Director of UPTH, Prof. Aaron Ojule called for cooperation among stakeholders in order to reposition the public health institutions.

Ojule said: “We thank the management of Sterling Bank Plc for the items donated for use by the hospital, as there is no doubt that this donation will be a major boost to the quality of care we provide.

“This gesture is a testament o some of the initiatives that the management has adopted in order to brave the odds and face the challenges arising from the current economic recession confronting the country.

“The management hereby affirms that it will reciprocate this gesture by ensuring that the donated items would be handled with care and put into judicious use, knowing full well the enormity of resources spent procuring these very valuable items.”

Earlier, the General Manager, South-South and South-East for Sterling Bank, Emmanuel Emefelem, had stated that the donation was in line with its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility.

“We have had a long standing business relationship with the hospital and we needed to also respond to their need at this critical period. We are making the donation as part of our CSR as a bank.

“The items will facilitate the take off of the Assisted Reproductive Unit, which takes care of couple that are having fertility related issues and they need assistance to have their babies. What we did was to specifically request items required by that unit to take off fully.

“What we have provided for the hospital will address their need and ensure that they kick start their activities. The equipment cost us huge money running into millions, but we look beyond the cost we want to see a socially responsible bank contributing to the society enhancing lives and also partnering with institutions like UPTH ensuring that things work better without depending on the government