IPNews-Monrovia,Liberia- 25 March 25, 2018: Samuel Eto’o Fils, former indomitable lions’ captain and football legend, has constructed and equipped a pediatric center at Douala Laquintinie hospital.
The project worth 700 million F CFA, is Eto’o’s way of reducing the rate of infant mortality as well as childbirth related complications for women. It stems from the Samuel Eto’o foundation and has been dubbed “Pavilion Samuel Eto’o”.
During the inauguration ceremony on May 8, Samuel Eto’o said it is important for people to make such contributions so that future mothers have a place where they can receive medical care.
Mama Fouda, Cameroon’s minister of public health for his part, expressed gratitude for the legendary act. “We are saying thank you. It is a very vital move,” he said.
The centre, which is intended to offer hospitality to the paediatric department of the hospital, has several resuscitation rooms. It has a capacity of 48 beds, which now gives a total of 148 beds in the pediatric department of the hospital. The building is also equipped with a number of specific equipment such as ultrasound and radiant tables.
Samuel Eto’o equally use the center’s inauguration ceremony to announce his plans to build a school in Cameroon’s northern region. A project which he says is facilitated by foreign donors.
Eto’o remains one of the greatest footballers in Africa and Cameroon, with four African Footballer of the Year Awards, three La Liga titles, two African Cup of Nations, and much more. He has more African goals than any other African player.
His humanitarian acts towards the nation pundits say, confirms his commitment to the emergence of the country.
It may be recalled Ivory Coast captain and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba help fund the construction of five (yes, five) clinics specializing in children and women’s health spread throughout the country.
Didier Drogba Foundation secretary Guy Roland Tanoh, said that the projects are being funded by the organization’s London galas and Drogba’s personal contributions.
Roughly $5 million will be invested in the projects, with one facility to be built in each of the five major cities of the West African country namely Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Man, Korhogo and San Pedro. Abidjan, the first city to receive it’s hospital, is the highest-populated French-speaking city in West Africa, which was completed in 2015.
The 36-year-old, who scored a record 65 goals in 104 caps for Ivory Coast before retiring from international football in 2014, couldn’t be happier to put his money where his heart is.
Drogba first announced his plan to build a hospital in the city of Abidjan in 2009 using his entire £3 million ($4.5 million) fee from an endorsement deal with Pepsi. But instead of building one big hospital “that may be difficult for many people to reach,” it was decided to be more practical to build five smaller clinics spread throughout the country. Drogba said
