Shell and Africare Form Partnership to Launch $4.5 Million Health Care Program in Nigeria

Africare
Friday, 14 November 2003

Shell and Africare Form Partnership to Launch $4.5 Million Health Care Program in Nigeria

The Shell Petroleum Company of Nigeria Limited (Shell) and Africare today announced the signing of a partnership agreement to establish a $4.5 million health care program in Nigeria.

Shell will contribute $3.4 million of the program's cost over the next three years, with Africare contributing $1.1 million.

Shell and Africare will concentrate on the six core Niger Delta states. The partners will begin by distributing mosquito nets impregnated with insecticides. The program will progress to developing local capacity to manufacture and impregnate nets in the Niger Delta, creating business opportunities for small and medium scale enterprises.

Sir Philip Watts, Chairman of the Committee of Managing Directors of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies, said today, Malaria is a devastating disease in Africa. Through this partnership, Shell and Africare will help to end this scourge, and at the same time support the development of sustainable business opportunities in the Niger Delta. Africare has considerable health care expertise and shares Shells long-standing commitment to playing a key part in improving the socio-economic well-being of the people of the Niger Delta, and Nigeria as a whole.

Julius E. Coles, President of Africare, said, Addressing the health needs of the people of the Niger Delta is fundamental to enabling development of the area. Africare is proud to partner with Shell in this important work.

Chris Finlayson, Chairman and Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, said, Health care has been an important focus of Shell's social investment programs in the Niger Delta for decades. Joining hands with Africare will help us to expand the scope of this work.

Dr. Chinwe Effiong, Africare Nigeria Country Representative, said, Africare is pleased to be able to boost its development programs in Nigeria through this partnership with Shell. Our program will fit well with the government's 'roll back malaria' campaign and contribute to reducing childhood and maternal mortality.

About Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC)

Incorporated in 1937, SPDC is the oldest and largest producer of oil and gas in Nigeria. SPDC operates a joint venture in which the federal government holds a majority share of 55 percent through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation; Shell, the operators, hold 30 percent; Elf 10 percent; and Agip 5 percent.

SPDC employs over 4,000 people, 95 percent of whom are Nigerians. It produces almost half of Nigeria's crude oil and operates more than 90 oil fields in the Niger Delta. SPDC has considerable natural gas capacity and has developed a number of projects to harness or conserve associated gas. The largest of these is the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas project at Bonny Island, in which SPDC is a major shareholder. SPDC supplies about 95% of Nigeria's commercial gas.

In 1993 Shell formed Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited to operate deep-water blocks offshore Nigeria in depths of between 400 and 1,400 meters, as well as exploration in onshore areas in the Gongola Basins.

Shell in Nigeria adheres to principles of sustainable development, recognizing its corporate social and environmental as well as its economic responsibilities. Shell's social investment program in Nigeria began in the 1950s. Today, Shell in Nigeria spends some $60 million each year on social investment, assisting communities to develop agriculture and social infrastructure such as community health schemes and educational facilities. Shell also supports education through scholarships and youth training schemes.

About Africare and Malaria Control

Africare has been working in Nigeria since 1978. Africare has long-standing experience in the design and delivery of technical, training, material, and financial assistance to self-help efforts in the fields of health and HIV/AIDS, food security and agriculture, water resource development, environmental management, basic education, microenterprise development, governance initiatives, and emergency humanitarian aid. Health programs are important to Africare's work in virtually all countries where it operates and constitute about one-quarter of Africare's overall development assistance effort.

Africare has participated in child survival programs since 1986 and has implemented maternal and child health programs in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda. Other health programs include: family planning activities in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal, and South Africa; HIV/AIDS education and prevention activities in Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe; essential drugs management programs in the Gambia and Sierra Leone; river blindness control activities in Chad and Nigeria; malaria control in Benin; nutrition in most food security programs; and water/sanitation in more than 15 countries.

Africare's work in Nigeria began with the donation of hospital equipment and supplies to a group of Nigerian physicians returning from the United States to set up a nonprofit community medical center. In 1984 Africare entered into agreement with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the federal Ministry of Health to support the national Family Health Services Program. Since that time, with grant support from USAID and a variety of private donors, Africare's program of assistance to Nigeria has totaled more than US$17 million.

Africare is a leader in aid to Africa as well as the oldest and largest African-American organization specializing in African aid. Over its 33-year history, Africare has delivered more than $450 million in assistance representing over 2,000 projects and millions of beneficiaries to 35 countries Africa-wide. Today, Africare's 150-plus programs reach families and communities in 25 nations in every region of Sub-Saharan Africa.

For more information, or to contact Africare, see their website at: www.africare.org