Community health
For Eni, improving health among local communities and promoting wellbeing is extremely important.
Our commitment
Our goals have always revolved around protecting the health of our people and of the communities in the areas where we operate
An ongoing commitment
We support community health initiatives aligned with local health policies and international best practices. Supporting the health of local communities is an important way for Eni to reinforce its credibility and effectiveness as a partner for the development of the areas where it works. Eni’s efforts in this area have a dual function: to facilitate exploration, production and access to energy, while also supporting specific projects to meet the main needs of communities.
Our approach
We protect the health of our people and the communities in the areas where we work, not simply meeting legal requirements but seeking to achieve excellence. In this vein, we have adopted a health management system based on the international standard OHSAS 18001, which is used as standard in all our operating activities. In addition, to assess the potential effects of projects on the health of affected communities, the Upstream business has carried out a number of comprehensive and integrated Health Impact Assessments (HIA) and Environmental and Social Health Impact Assessments (ESHIA).
Our main objectives
Our aim through these projects is to improve the living conditions of the people in affected areas through initiatives to develop local healthcare systems. We focus on the development and empowerment of staff with medical and organisational skills and on strengthening institutions, health infrastructure and equipment. We also provide information, education and communications, facilitating the provision of effective and sustainable services that are economically and culturally accessible (especially to more vulnerable groups) and in line with local standards and international guidelines. We help employees to access healthcare, combining the services provided by the company with the best healthcare services available in the local area. We create the necessary conditions for health to be a basic human right and support the sustainable and independent development of communities. Lastly, we pursue enhanced cooperation between the company and its partners at all levels, including local and national governments, health authorities and civil society. We take an approach to health that operates horizontally, through a capacity-building strategy, and vertically through targeted initiatives, for example to support malaria prevention.
Our health initiatives in communities around the world
Safeguarding the health of the communities where we operate is one of the fundamental values of Eni’s business model. In 2017, we involved 900,000 people in community health initiatives in ten countries where we are active. Furthermore, our 2018-2021 strategic plan sets out €34 million of investments in projects for the health of local communities. The main initiatives in 2017 concerned improving the skills of health personnel, building or modernising health facilities and providing adequate equipment, access to drinking water, information and promoting health-related issues of relevance to the populations involved.
