OFFICIALS of Philip Electronic, the maker of Philip Electronic products, have expressed their commitment to reducing maternal and child mortality in the country even as they urged pregnant women and nursing mothers to always attend primary health clinics.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Refurbished Medical Facilities set up at Iru/Victoria Island Local Council Healthcare Centre, Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer, of the company, Juan Van Dongen, said Philip Electronics has upgraded the facilities in the labour, paediatric and newborn baby wards; designing them to support the wellbeing and recovery of expectant mothers and their newborn babies. He added that it is anticipated that over time, as a result of this pioneering project, many lives will also be saved.
The donation of the Refurbished Medical Facilities is part of Philip’s Electronic Company corporate social responsibility (CSR), in order to give back the community where it operates.
Dongen stated the Iru/Victoria Island Health Centre has a very high number of patients inflow with an average of 300 to 400 outpatients per month, as well as 30 to 40 follow up appointments per week. The centre records an average of 20 childbirths per months. The labour, pediatric and newborn units in the centre prior to the refurbishment were in need of an upgrade.
Dongen said: “Iru/Victoria Island Healthcare Centre is the largest amongst three primary healthcare centres in the district, which include Oniru Primary Healthcare Centre Takwa Bay Island Primary Healthcare Centre and Iru/Island Primary Healthcare, all of which have minimal manpower. Therefore, the upgrading of the healthcare centre will benefit all three centres, and enable them to provide more efficient patient care”.
“The project, undertaken by Philips has resulted in a complete overhaul and renovation of existing mother and childcare facilities. Philips began by painting and decorating the wards in order to create a serene and calming environment; Philips has also installed new toilets, tables, chairs, beds and cabinets”.
In addition, all the light fittings have been retrofitted with the lasted Philips LED lighting solutions; LED lighting enable rest and recovery, as it’s not as harsh as conventional fluorescent lighting, it requires minimal maintenance and also helps to reduce energy consumption. Earlier, due to frequent power outages as well as poor and sporadic lighting, doctors found it is very challenging to have childbirth at night, this problem is now eliminated. This new innovative solar LED lighting provides safe and uninterrupted illumination, while saving costs.
The Executive Sectary of Iru/Victoria Island Local Council, Abayomi Daramola, described primary healthcare as universally healthcare services available, affordable, accessible and acceptable by an individual and community. Based on sound scientific knowledge, experience and sustained by self-reliance.
Abayomi, who is also a pharmacist added that Philip Electronic, provided maternal newborn and child healthcare services, immunisation services and outreaches, reproductive healthcare and family planning, health education and promotion, general outpatients services communicable and non-communicable diseases, Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDs) comprehensive services, school health services, community dental care service, laboratory services, free sponsored medical mission, ambulance services, disease surveillance and control, infectious disease control and prevention, and basic hygiene and environmental sanitation.
