Coca-Cola Nigeria, along with its bottling partner, Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC), has stepped up efforts to boost its Safe Birth Initiative (SBI).
Director, Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe made this known at the weekend in Port Harcourt. She explained that the goal of SBI is to eliminate or reduce the high rate of deaths during childbirth.
SBI delivers equipment and human capacity building to health institutions across Nigeria to bridge the shortfall in the state-of-the-art medical equipment and a dearth of skilled manpower.
Onyemelukwe noted that kicking off this year’s initiative in Port Harcourt was heartwarming because of the memories evoked by impact stories that have followed the SBI programme launch in 2018.
She said: “We are starting this year’s Safe Birth Initiative at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). The SBI would still reach out to more health institutions within the year. But what makes today especially happy for me is that the Coca-Cola System can meet the specific equipment.’’
However, Vice-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Owunari Georgwill expressed joy at the timely intervention of the Coca-Cola System in the healthcare sector. He said the top-notch equipment would impact beyond the UPTH and assured that those entrusted would make the most of it.
His words: “Let me thank the donors, Coca-Cola Nigeria. I understand that the equipment is cutting-edge technology that will aid solutions to complex medical conditions. I am certain that this will impact the whole of Niger Delta region.”