Taking Health to Remote Host Communities : Our RiverBoat Clinic Experience

摘要

Taking Health to remote Host Communities: Our RiverBoatrnClinic experience.rnArising from a desire to positively impact the lives of peoplernin its areas of operation, Chevron Nigeria, on behalf of thernNNPC/Chevron Joint Venture, in 1992 built andrncommissioned a model 18-bedded community health facility -rnthe Ugborodo Community Cottage Hospital for its hostrncommunities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria1. Thisrnhospital which served about seven villages with an estimatedrntotal population of 60,000, located round Chevron’s EscravosrnTank Farm, provided emergency and primary health care freernof charge, and was in fact the only health facility available andrnaccessible to the host communities. This hospital was burntrndown during one of the inter-ethnic communal crises in Mayrn1999, and plans for its rebuilding have advanced. Continuedrnprovision of healthcare services to these communities becamerna major challenge. In January 2001, Chevron built andrncommissioned a riverboat ambulance, which has become ofrnimmense value in providing healthcare to these communitiesrnin the difficult mangrove terrain of the company’s area ofrnoperation.rnThis mobile health facility runs regular scheduled visits to thernvarious communities and is able to cover a wide area. It is wellrnaccepted and highly valued by the host communities.rnIt is run in partnership with the Delta State Government ofrnNigeria and the relevant local government authorities;rnbenefiting communities are encouraged to play active roles inrnthis program.rnA memorandum of understanding was signed betweenrnChevron, the State government and representatives of hostrncommunities to define scope of the service and assign roles tornthe key players.rnThis paper will discuss the mode of operation of the riverboatrnclinic, the scope of its services, community perception andrnparticipation, opportunities it has provided for partnering withrngovernment and host communities as well as the commonrnmedical problems encountered with other relevant data.