General
Source: Tanzania Daily News
OPHIR Energy, an oil and gas exploration company operating in Mtwara Region has donated 16m/- to Benedictine Sisters' Shangani Dispensary.
Presenting a cheque to the dispensary administration, Ophir's Non-Executive Director Vivien Gibney said the money was meant to support improvement of maternity ward.
"Ophir recognises the importance of supporting community work, such as that of the improvement of maternity ward, which will benefit Mtwara Municipality," noted Ms Gibney.
She added that it was not the first time the company had provided support to the Benedictine Sisters, as it had done so previously in 2010 and 2012, in line with its corporate social responsibility in Mtwara.
"Ophir supported you in the past and we have witnessed how carefully you spent money that we gave you. In 2010, several Ophir employees and contractors gave generously to this dispensary, followed by November 2012 donation of 16m/- from the Ophir board to assist the Sisters in providing pre and postnatal care for women in Mtwara Region," she explained.
Ms Gibney said the Company was pleased to realise that despite many challenges the maternity ward faced due to lack of medical equipment and resources, the sisters had spent the money carefully to ensure sustainable support for many women they lovingly cared for every day.
In her vote of thanks, the Sister-in-Charge of the dispensary, Sr Martha Mtega, said the donation came at a very opportune time and will greatly benefit needy Mtwara residents.
She said the dispensary, apart from maintaining corporate clients operating in the region including Ophir, also supported average income earners in the municipality some of whom were given free medication.
"For example, in 2012 we assisted 232 patients with free drugs at 4.6m/- and in 2013, a total of 213 patients got free treatment at 4.2m/-," Sister Mtega said.
She noted that they did so because they could not send away people who arrived at the dispensary for treatment just because they had no money.
Sister Mtega said that most of them were suffering from malaria, hypertension, had urinary tract infections, peptic ulcers, worms, skin infections and sustained injuries in road accidents.
Speaking of the past assistance from Ophir, she said apart from using it for the rehabilitation of the maternity ward, the money will also be spent on training a laboratory technician, on buying a new microscope and more medicinal drugs.