GSK/SCI donates N20m worth medical oxygen equipments to Rasheed Shikoni hospital

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

The GlaxoSmithKline and Save the Children International donated N20 million worth of medical oxygen system and devices to Rasheed Shekoni Specialist hospital, Jigawa state.
Speaking at the handover ceremony held yesterday at the hospital premises, the Chief of Party Inspiring project Dr Isah Adamu said, the equipments will enhance the hospital’s capacity in providing lifesaving oxygen therapy.
“we consider equipping the hospital with Medical oxygen as the critical step in addressing hypoxemia a common sign of pneumonia which is the leading infectious killer of children under five years old” he said.
He said, the 36 points of oxygen include oxygen systems, oxygen concentrators and 18 pulse oximeters adding that, Save the Children provided the same last year to Dutse general hospital.
Dr Isah maintained that, the donation of the oxygen system was made possible through the partnership of GlaxiSmithKline (GSK) and was realized through the Integrated Sustainable Childhood Pneumonia and Infectious Diseases Reduction in Nigeria (INSPIRING) project.
The Save the Children then called on state governments to scale up their support towards improving local medical oxygen systems.
While making his remarks, the secretary to Jigawa state government Alhaji Abdulqadir Fanini appreciated the effort and urged other NGOs to copy from Save the Children.
Also the Chief Medical Director of Rasheed Shekoni Hospital Dr Magaji Ado Mahmud described the project as giant stride in saving lives of Jigawa people particularly the under five years old.