August 16, 2010

Ellicott Dredges joins Jhpiego malaria program in Nigeria

Baltimore manufacturer Ellicott Dredges has begun a partnership with Jhpiego in support of its Malaria in Pregnancy Program in Nigeria.

The 125-year-old company, which operates in 80 countries, has made a $100,000-plus multiyear commitment to buy anti-malaria medicines, insecticide-treated bed nets and other supplies to protect women and children in Akwa Ibom state in the Niger Delta region. Ellicott Dredges joins the ExxonMobil Foundation in this ongoing work, which has already reached 28,000 pregnant women.

Malaria is a major cause of illness and death in Nigeria, contributing directly to poverty, low productivity and reduced school attendance. It kills an estimated 4,500 pregnant women each year in that country, according to the government.

Peter Bowe, president of Ellicott Dredges, said that the company wanted to have a direct impact on improving the lives of women and children in Nigeria, where the firm has been active working on sand-dredging projects. “Women are the foundation of families throughout the world. Their health is directly related to a nation’s health,” Bowe said. “We are excited to contribute to this effort with Jhpiego and ExxonMobil.”

Ellicott Dredges leads the world in dredge mining applications, including sand winning, real estate development, river and canal dredging, and ecosystem preservation. It built all the dredges used in the original construction of the Panama Canal.