Navy Donates Maternity, Neonatal Facility To Egah Community

By Boniface Omachonu

The people of Egah Ward in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State have been urged to protect public infrastructure against vandalism.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, made the call at the inauguration of a newly constructed Maternity and Neonatal Block at Egah in Idah LocalGovernment Area.

Vice Admiral Abbas, who was represented by the Director of Veteran Affairs, Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Raheem Taofeek, said the facility would help reduce maternal and child health challenges in the area.

He commended the facilitator of the project, Rear Admiral I.E Shehu for the initiative and urged the community to put the hospital to proper use.

Earlier, Rear Admiral Shehu explained that the project was executed under the Chief of Naval Staff Quick Impact Project, a Nigerian Navy Civil-Military Cooperation initiative designed to honour serving Rear Admirals and contribute to community development.

According to him, the facility was built in memory of his late grandmother, who died in Idah about ninety years ago.

Rear Admiral Shehu listed the components of the facility to include a waiting area, consulting and examination rooms for doctors and nurses, a delivery room, a two-bed recovery ward, a pharmacy and store, as well as medical support equipment.

He added that the project is powered by an 8kVA solar inverter system with two 15-kilowatt-hour lithium batteries and is supported by a borehole with a three thousand litre storage tank.

Handing over the facility to the Chairman, Idah Local Government Area, Rear Admiral Shehu urged the council to provide adequate personnel and ensure effective utilization.

In a message, the Attah Igala, His Royal Majesty, Matthew Opaluwa Oguche Akpa, commended Rear Admiral Shehu for the project and prayed for the success of the Naval leadership.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Idah Local Government Area, Alhaji Halilu Alfa, his Deputy, Mr Sherif Ibrahim, and the Vice President, Egah Development Forum, Mr Arome Okpanachi, described the project as a landmark achievement that will remain indelible in the community.