Beneficiaries applaud MTNF on CSR

IT was a free flow of emotion at the weekend, in Lagos, as some beneficiaries of MTN Foundation Medical Intervention Scheme (MIS), applauded the telecoms giant on its corporate social responsibility (CRS).

In her opening remarks at a thanksgiving party organised for them in Lagos, the Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, the CRS arm of the company, Ms Nonny Ugboma, said the scheme which is in its second year, was conceived to engender emotional and social equity for MTN.

“This event, now in its second year, is a rare bonding opportunity for all of us here present. Today, we are happy to gather together to celebrate with our beneficiaries who have successfully undergone different kinds of medical treatment,” she said.

Ms Ugboma said the scheme was designed to offer vital medical treatment to indigent individuals with chronic but treatable ailments whose conditions have become the subject of media attention, public discourse and appeals or correspondence with MTN.

She said the scheme which kicked off in 2009 saw a set of 11 beneficiaries, comprising nine children and two adults, who were sent abroad for various medical treatments.
Ugboma said 16 patients were selected for treatment last year.

“We have spent millions of naira in this area and we are willing to commit more to put smiles on the faces of needy Nigerians, she said.

Expressing her appreciation, Mrs. Cadisa Abiola, whose daughter Muminat Abiola, had a hole in the heart which required N1.5m for treatment said the intervention came from MTN less than 40 days after the discovery of the ailment.

“It is a miracle because I did not expect a thing like this in this country. I was in India with my daughter and we were warmly received right from the airport to the hospital,” she said.

For Lukman Adejumo, his daughter also had a heart surgery requiring N2 million in India.

On his part Mr. Akin Williams, an accident victim, said walking again was a miracle. According to him, he had broken head, legs, ribs and arms and was on wheel chair for many years.

Other beneficiaries present were 6-year old Ngozi Chijioke, 8-year old Oluwatosin Williams, Miss Mary Oluchi, a breast cancer victim as well as Great Ukong, a burns victim.

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