BY NNAMDI OJIEGO

A NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation – Sapphire Crest Youth Foundation, last week donated medical equipment, including four brand new incubators to the Paediatric Department of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos.

The Foundation, comprising six female medical students of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, aims to touch the lives of less privileged and orphans in the society.

According to the group leader Ms Akindolie Doyinsola : “We discovered the need for more incubators when we started our clinical postings and feel that there was a gap that needed to be filled. So we decided to contribute in our own little way.

“We cannot depend on government for everything, we cannot be complaining every time. So we decided that instead of being part of the problem, that we should be part of the solution.

Our major aim is to give back to the society by assisting the orphans and the less privileged, embarking on female empowerment scheme through our programme called Directions for Life.”

Doyinsola said the gesture would be extended to other hospitals especially in the rural communities. “We are starting with LUTH because, it is our immediate environment. With the support and encouragement of Nigerians, we will extend the gesture to other places, particularly, in the rural communities.”

Commending Exxon Mobil Nigeria for its assistance, towards the project, the donors called on other corporate organisations, and well meaning Nigerians to assist in making the society a better place for all.

Taking the delivering of the facilities, the Chief Medical Director, LUTH, Prof Akin Osibogun expressed joy that their contributions would strengthened the institution’s position as hospital with the largest number of incubators in the country.