In view of the alleged abandonment of the Ogidigben Central Hospital, by both the state government and oil companies operating in the Ogidigben community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, the people of the area have appealed to the federal government to intervene.
The people of the oil-rich area have however lamented the project, saying that several persons have died due to lack of medical equipment and doctors in the hospital.
When journalists visited the hospital, it was revealed that the hospital was supposed to serve about five communities, which include, Ajudaibo, Ode-Ugborodo, Madangho, Ijale, and Ugbegun, but unfortunately, the place is busy, with reptiles taking over the hospital.
The reports gathered have it that, one person had died after snakes invaded the hospital a month ago. No doctor or nurse was found at the hospital just as the wards were under lock and key. The Ologbosere of Warri Kingdom and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Ayiri Emami, who was in his community for the Easter break, reacted to the situation when newsmen met with him.
The reports said that Chief Emani regretted that the hospital and the Madangho Cottage hospital built by Chevron was burnt down during the Ijaw, Isekiri clashes in 1997 and 2002, expressing dismay that, the hospital is yet to be rebuilt, adding that his people are dying due to lack of health care, he appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to come to their aid.
According to him, “my people are suffering due to the fact that we have no hospital. The only place we have a health centre is at Ogborodo which is about 30 minutes from our community. Sometimes people die before they could even get to the place. “It is most unfortunate because the PDP administration in Delta State has abandoned that hospital which was constructed by Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan led administration.
Meanwhile, some people from Ogidigben even voted for PDP. “Snakes and other reptiles have taken over the only hospital we have, in fact, one person died as a result of snake bite at the hospital last month. The hospital at Madangho which was burnt down by the Ijaws is yet to be rebuilt. Though we are aware that the funds meant for the project is already with the Itsekiri Development Council and the project will commence after we are able to resolve some internal issues.
“But what is more heartbreaking is that the Delta State Government had abandoned the Ogidigben community hospital which is a state government project and that is very unfair to my people. And I use this opportunity to appeal to President Buhari to come to our aid because our people are dying every day as a result of this unfortunate situation” he stated.
