By Emma Arubi

WARRI-THE Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, WRPC, in Delta State has been commended by the traditional ruler of Uvwie kingdom, HRM Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1 for donating a 100kva Mikano sound proof generating set to the Ekpan General Hospital in Uvwie Council area of the state.

The traditional ruler said that the gesture would certainly uplift the standard of medical care delivery in the council area, even as he noted that it is the function of the state government to provide such facilities for the smooth operations of the hospital.

He, therefore, appealed to the relevant authorities of the state to rise up to the challenges of lack of infrastructure and equipment in the hospital.

Speaking during the installation and commissioning of the power generating set, the Managing Director of WRPC, Mr. Simon Itua Ehiemua , charged the management of the hospital to embrace the maintenance culture.

He said this would ensure a longer service life from the generator, saying that the donation is in fulfillment of his promise to give electricity to the hospital light as requested by the royal father when he visited him on assumption of office early this year.

The hospital has been without a power generating set for long, making medical operations extremely difficult to both doctors and patients who have to put up with the epileptic public power supply from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.

The President-General, Uvwie Improvement Development Union, Chief Tuesday Onoge, noted that doling out cash for developmental projects to community leaders is the primary source of crisis and violence in most Niger Delta communities.

He also commended the WRPC for the provision of the generating set, adding that “this one will not bring any in-fighting.”

The management of the hospital thanked the company for the gesture, but reminded them that unless they go the extra mile of providing at least 5,000 litres of diesel monthly to power the set, it would make no meaning to them as their monthly allowance cannot sustain a regular supply of diesel to power the plant.

The hospital is also said to be in need of some medical and office equipment, building of more structures, paintings of the existing buildings and landscaping/interlocking the water logged hospital premises.