Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) is the largest exploration and production company in Pakistan, operating across the nation. The company has a commendable record of performing social work in the areas where it operates for the welfare of the local communities, exceeding its CSR obligations and spending more on welfare projects.
As the places where OGDCL operates are remote with limited health facilities for the locals, the company provides health facilities at its locations to the locals. However, people face difficulties in moving patients to hospitals in cases of emergency care. To address this hardship, OGDCL has launched a program to distribute fully equipped 100 ambulances worth Rs. 200 million to District Headquarter (DHQ), Tehsil Headquarter (THQ) hospitals, and Basic Health Units (BHU) across the country.
These ambulances will play a significant role in strengthening the referral system, a crucial aspect in achieving health coverage. They will enhance the ability of public health services to respond to medical emergencies and provide timely referrals for patients in severe and life-threatening conditions, especially for people living in hard-to-reach areas or those not able to afford transportation. OGDCL will distribute these ambulances in collaboration with the local administration to BHUs, THQ, and DHQ hospitals surrounding OGDCL operational fields.
The launch ceremony took place at OGDCL Head Office Islamabad and was attended by distinguished guests, including the Federal Secretary of Petroleum Division, Capt (R) Muhammad Mahmood. Speaking at the ceremony, Ahmed Hayat Lak, MD/CEO, OGDCL, highlighted the importance of the program in the country’s health sector and emphasized that the initiative would help improve people’s access to health services. Zia Salahuddin, Executive Director (Services), OGDCL, provided a comprehensive introduction to the program, outlining the salient features of the ambulances and the modalities for their distribution.
The Federal Secretary of Petroleum Division Capt (R) Muhammad Mahmood commended OGDCL for taking such an initiative to ensure health facilities for masses across the country. He emphasized the importance of the CSR program and gave valuable suggestions for augmenting the CSR initiatives and improving the outreach. The Secretary also stressed the need for focusing on capacity building of the youth.
OGDCL is striving hard to improve the livelihoods of the communities through CSR initiatives in various sectors. Being the largest contributor towards CSR in the country’s corporate sector, OGDCL had also distributed 15 basic life support ambulances in its operational districts at the cost of Rs. 95.40 million in the year 2019-20.
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