Some medical and digital equipment have been donated to the Obalende Primary Healthcare Centre in Lagos by MTN Nigeria through its annual Y’ello Care initiative.
The items donated by the leading telecommunications firm included desktop computers, tablets, a 5G router, delivery beds, fans, chairs, and essential healthcare supplies.
They were given to the healthcare facility to modernise its operations and improving patient care, reinforcing the donor’s commitment to enhancing grassroots healthcare.
The Y’ello Care initiative, now in its 18th year, mobilises MTN staff nationwide to support critical sectors via volunteering and targeted interventions, with this year’s theme focused on Connecting at the Roots and the staff chose to strengthen the primary healthcare centre which is closest to the vulnerable ones.
Receiving the items, the Medical Official of Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area, Dr Akintayo Akintoba Adebayo, expressed profound admiration for the recent donation by MTN Nigeria to local healthcare centres, describing himself as “speechless” at the positive developments unfolding daily in the area.
He highlighted that Ikoyi/Obalende LCDA boasts two functional healthcare centres and emphasised the unpredictable nature of health issues, which require readily available resources for effective response.
Reflecting on the donated items, Dr Akintoba, who is also the Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics for Lagos State Health District III, noted that most were essential medical supplies poised to significantly enhance healthcare delivery in the local government, referencing Lagos State’s Health Information Platform, an initiative aimed at digitising healthcare processes across the state, including primary healthcare centres.
The medical practitioner observed a shift in perception regarding technology in healthcare, stating that while computers were once considered unnecessary in primary centres, they are now recognised globally as vital, given that primary healthcare is the cornerstone of effective medical service.
Praising MTN Nigeria’s staff for their exemplary contribution, he called for collective responsibility, urging individuals to assess their environments and contribute meaningfully to societal improvement, saying government alone cannot do it all.
He stressed the importance of unity in addressing Nigeria’s critical health challenges, affirming that making a positive impact is a shared purpose and that MTN Nigeria’s recent intervention exemplifies this commitment.
Also speaking at the presentation of the equipment, the Medical Consultant for MTN Nigeria, Dr Idorenyin Oladiran, highlighted the challenges faced by primary healthcare centres, including staffing shortages, limited space, and inefficient manual record-keeping.
She explained that MTN’s digital solutions are designed to transition centres from paper-based to electronic records, enhancing efficiency, data security, and seamless information sharing among healthcare providers. This digitisation also facilitates telemedicine, enabling specialists in urban areas to support colleagues in remote locations.
“Digitisation will empower healthcare workers, improve clinical decision-making, and help close the digital divide,” she said.
The Team Lead for MTN Nigeria, Mr Sunday Ngegu, noted that the company dedicates 21 days in June, yearly, to community service, reflecting its corporate social responsibility ethos. “We are doing this in good spirit, not just as a telecommunications provider but as collaborators committed to the well-being of our communities,” he said.