By Modupe Gbadeyanka
To further increase the capacity for critical patient care and advance emergency response capabilities in Lagos State, a fully-equipped Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has been donated to the General Hospital Ijede, Lagos.
The five-bed facility was given to the healthcare institution by Egbin Power Plc and Sahara Group Foundation in line with their determination to deepen their commitment to the advancement of healthcare services in Nigeria.
The organisations stressed that initiative underscores their pledge to provide access to quality critical healthcare services, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which aims to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for people of all ages.”
“At Egbin Power Plc, we believe that the strength of a community is reflected in the well-being of its people. As one of the largest power generation companies in Nigeria, we have always been committed to not only powering homes and industries but also to empowering lives.
“The impact of this donation will be far-reaching, improving emergency response, and strengthening overall healthcare delivery in the state.
“To the healthcare professionals who will be working in this ICU, we entrust this facility into your capable hands. Your dedication and expertise are the bedrock of the healthcare system.
“We are confident that you will provide exceptional care and restore hope to countless patients and their families.
“Our commitment to community development does not end here. At Egbin Power Plc, we will continue to seek out opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the society in which we operate.
“Whether through health, education, or environmental sustainability initiatives, our mission is to make a positive impact that resonates for generations to come,” the chief executive of Egbin Power, Mr Mokhtar Bounour, said.
On her part, the Director of Governance and Sustainability at Sahara Group Foundation, Ms Ejiro Gray, noted that, “We don’t have a lot of this facility in Lagos State, and even in Nigeria.
“One can only imagine how many lives that must have been lost because we didn’t have this sort of facility for critical cases. The time and logistics it took to get critically ill patients to a healthcare facility that has an ICU was a challenge.
“We took a step further in establishing the ICU facility, equipping it with quality infrastructure and equipment to create a fully-fledged ICU in this part of the state. This has therefore brought critical care services closer to the people.”
The Acting Chief Medical Director of the General Hospital Ijede, Dr Olumuyiwa Balogun-Oluwa, thanked the duo for the donation, noting the facility will serve people in Ikorodu community and Lagos State at large.
“General Hospital Ijede has moved to the next level of healthcare, a level occupied by not many general hospitals in the state, that is, a hospital with an ICU. We are grateful to Sahara Group Foundation and Egbin Power.
“The commissioning today is a further step towards fulfilling the vision statement which is to be one of the best hospitals in the environment, and I believe we are very close to achieving it.
“The facility will be primarily used for the benefit of the Ikorodu community and Lagos State in general. We intend to get all our staff prepared and trained for the commencement of work,” he said.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Aduragbemi Omiyale