TotalEnergies, NNPC Donates Mammography Centre To Bauchi Gov’t To Tackle Cancer

BY KHALID IDRIS DOYA, Bauchi 

TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited has observed that the completion and donation of the Mammography Centre at Azare in Bauchi state clearly illustrates its deep commitment to support the ongoing global fight against cancer.

The company’s managing director/chief executive officer, and country chair, Matthieu Bouyer at the handing-over of the Mammography Centre at the General Hospital Azare to the state government yesterday, he said the project was donated to help provide quality healthcare to cancer patients in the country and it is a corporate social responsibility initiative by TotalEnergies and partners, including NNPC Limited, PRIME 130, SAPETRO, and CNOOC aimed at detecting and treating cancer cases, especially breast cancer. 

“This is even more evident in our recent endorsement of the #WorkingWithCancer movement, an international partnership with other companies promoting a more supportive culture focused on recovery and job retention for collaborators affected by cancer”. 

According to Mr. Matthieu Bouyer, the designation of October 2024 as ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month’ further highlights their readiness at TotalEnergies to continue drawing attention to the problem.

He said that the donation of the facility to the people of Bauchi was borne out of the need to detect breast and other forms of cancer early, reduce the fatality risk, and mitigate the gaps in access to qualitative healthcare in the northern region.

Bouyer disclosed that based on the December 2023 report by the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, over 120,000 new cancer cases are recorded annually in Nigeria, hence their commitment to changing the situation.

TotalEnergies Chief Executive explained that in recognition of the danger posed by the disease that they delivered the project which, they strongly believe, will provide access to affordable early diagnosis and detection, aid the prompt treatment and follow-up of patients, and ultimately save lives.

He said, “Realised using the novel approach of “project managers”, which delivers projects in remote and challenging environments using local expertise and stakeholder engagement, this facility is among 84 infrastructural projects we have continued to unveil since 2016”.

Bouyer assured that as a responsible organisation, TotalEnergies will continue to contribute positively towards impacting its host communities and the nation at large, partners, and workforce through life-changing initiatives, and thanked the beneficiary community and project managers for their support.

Also at the occasion, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC-L) along with its partners said that they have at different times implemented various intervention programs and projects in the areas of education, skill acquisitions, and economic empowerment.

The Upstream Investment Management of the NNPC-L Chief Upstream Investment Officer, Mr. Bala Wunti, explained that other areas of investment included healthcare, provision of solar power, and other infrastructural intervention projects. 

Mr. Bala Wunti explained that the event further illustrates their joint commitment to improving the quality of healthcare in Nigeria, stressing that the facility stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and the unwavering dedication of multiple stakeholders.

“It represents the physical manifestation of our commitment—a symbol of hope and resilience. As a responsible organisation, NNPC Ltd is committed to giving back to the society where we operate. This project testifies to our dedication towards safeguarding the health and well-being of the people of Bauchi State and environs”, Wunti concluded.

While receiving the facility on behalf of state government, the state governor Bala Mohammed, commended the Management of NNPC/Total Energies Limited for constructing and equipping state of the art Mammography Centre, saying that it will benefit the good people of Bauchi State and beyond. 

Represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Auwal Jatau, said the Mammography Centre will prevent and care for breast cancer which is very common among women.

According to him, incidents of communicable diseases, particularly cancer, are increasing by the day in the society, adding that the disease when detected early is completely curable.

The governor further said the Centre will reduce the menace of breast cancer in Bauchi State and its neighbouring States.

“As we continue to strive for the betterment of our healthcare system, I urge all stakeholders from healthcare providers to local communities to leverage this opportunity. It is essential that we collaborate and embrace innovations and best practices for the benefit of our people,” the governor urged.

He further stated that the capacity of the centre to detect and treat cancer cases will save individuals and families a lot of resources that could have been lost otherwise.

Bala Mohammed said: “Healthcare is a fundamental right, and it is our duty as a Government to ensure that our citizens have access to quality medical services. We understand the myriad of challenges facing our Health Sector, which include limited medical human resource, inadequate infrastructure and equipment. Consequently, we have prioritised healthcare in our development agenda.

“At the inception of this Administration, I declared a State of Emergency in the Health Sector which means some bureaucratic protocols bye-passed to achieve the desired goals in the Health Sector. 

“We have also convened the First Comprehensive Health Summit which drew the blueprint for our Health Sector. Likewise, we have been consistently allocating over 15% of our annual budget to the Health Sector in line with the “Abuja Declaration”. 

“Similarly, we have re-commenced the Pre-Service Programme for Health Students in Tertiary Training Institutions as well as lifting embargo Stratum on recruitment in the Health Sector and renovation of most of our Health Facilities, etc,” he concluded.

The project aims to curb needless cancer deaths, especially breast cancer, among women in Nigeria by providing access to quality healthcare to all citizens and it boosts the country’s fight against breast cancer, which kills thousands of women annually.