Coca-Cola and its partner, Medshare, have donated equipment worth N3 billion to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) under its Safe Birth Initiative (SBI).

Presenting the equipment in Kano, the Managing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd., Alfred Olajide, said the donation was to support and improve maternal outcomes and reduce child mortality incidents.

He said: “The Safe Birth Initiative is a part of the company’s wellbeing Programme, to support the efforts of the government in reducing the alarming numbers of women and newborns who die from birth-related issues.”

Olajide reiterated Coca-Cola’s commitment to supporting maternal health and well-being as important members of society.

The Director of Public Affairs and Sustainability, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, stated that through the SBI, the company was supporting the resolute efforts of hard-working health personnel.

According to her, health workers battled against many oddities in public hospitals to manage life-threatening complications related to infants and maternal issues.

”The issue of maternal mortality is very important to us. Globally, Coca-Cola has a commitment to women whom we consider pillars of the society and also pillars of our business in Africa, where they have always played a dominant role in our vast distribution and retail network,” she said.

Onyemelukwe noted that the equipment donated included anaesthetic machines, baby incubators, ICU beds, Ultrasound, and Auto Clev, among others.

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She added that the company, with its partner, had trained over 20,000 women and youths in Kano State on a series of transformative skills and knowledge programmes.

On his part, the Chairman, Medical Advisory Council of the AKTH, Prof. Auwal Gajida, commended the company for the gesture just as he promised judicious use of the equipment.

Gajida said the donation would go a long way in improving maternal health and minimising infant mortality incidents.

He said: “I commend and thank the management of Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited for this very wonderful initiative aimed at strengthening our capacity to address the issue of maternal and newborn mortality in Nigeria.

“We are here today, receiving loads of medical equipment worth $720,000.”

The District Head of Tarauni, Alh Ado Kurawa, who represented the Emir of Kano, applauded the donors for their efforts in reducing child mortality incidents.

He, however, called on other companies and corporate organisations to emulate Coca-Cola’s impactful corporate social responsibility.

The Star