Thousands can’t access medicare since ex-militant leader suspended funding Mortality, morbidity rates go up in 100 riverside communities Reptiles, weeds overrun health facility By Emma Amaize, Editor OKERENKOKO—EX-MILITANT leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has called on the Delta State Government to take command of Okerenkoko Cottage Hospital, Okerenkoko, Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state, which according to him has been on its last legs, since last year, when he (Tompolo) suspended funding for the health institution, following the manhunt for him by security operatives.
The request is contained in a reminder, dated February 14, to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, by the Executive Secretary of Tompolo Foundation, TF, a nongovernmental organization established by the founder and former General Officer Commanding, GOC, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, November 29, 2012, to give back to the society, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo. In the letter, entitled:
“A clarion call to take over the running of the Okerenkoko Cottage Hospital in Warri South West from Tompolo Foundation,” he lamented that pregnant women and children at about 100 riverside communities in Gbaramatu kingdom and other parts of Delta, Bayelsa and Ondo states, were dying at disturbing rate because of the dysfunctional condition of the hospital. Dysfunctional condition Pointing out that Tompolo had earlier discussed running of the hospital by the state government with the governor, Mr. Bebenimibo added that: “This letter was first submitted to the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa in the month of August, 2015.”
Increase in death proportion: Since the suspension of operations in the Cottage hospital, there have been reports of increased mortality and morbidity rate, especially among children and pregnant women for the reason that it was the only hospital serving over 100 communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, the creeks and its environs; hence the people are exposed to grave medical conditions. “Our plea is that the state government should upgrade the Cottage Hospital to a General Hospital and take over the facility, so that the people will continue to enjoy the good medical services rendered by the state government,” he added.
.jpg)
Built by the NDDC, handed to DESOPADEC: NDV learned that the hospital built by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, was handed over to the Delta State Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC in January 15, 2008. …Destroyed by JTF: The state oil commission managed the hospital until 2009 when the Joint Task Force, JTF, on the Niger Delta, hunting for ex-militants bombarded the hospital for reasons that remain unclear. Tompolo’s rescue mission: DESOPADEC looked the other way after the destruction until 2013 or thereabout when Tompolo Foundation decided to come to the rescue of the people by taking over the payment of salaries of all medical personnel, renovating the facility and equipping the hospital with state of the art equipment.
He employed four doctors, four laboratory scientists, four pharmacists, eight nurses, four health recorders and other health workers to provide free health services to residents of Gbaramatu kingdom to complement government healthcare delivery, but the services soon extended to riverine residents to other parts of Delta and neighbouring states. TF, which is into health and education projects, told the governor: “The Foundation came on board, renovated, re-equipped the hospital with state-of-the-art medical equipment, forty-two (42) qualified medical staff and operated optimally from April, 2013 till August, 2015.” For the avoidance of doubt, Bebenimibo asserted: “The Foundation took over the facility not for any other reason, but to support the disadvantaged rural people and communities.” Assistance to other health centres: He said the organization also donated state-of-the-art medical equipment to Ogulagha Cottage Hospital, which has aided medical activities in the community and other neighbouring communities.
“Secondly, the foundation has donated drugs to some government- owned hospitals in the state, which includes Warri Central Hospital [Warri South] Ekpan General Hospital [Uvwie], Ugbokodo Health Centre [Okpe] and Ogbe-Ijoh General Hospital [Warri – South West], Primary Health Centre, Patani, Delta State.
Others include: Primary Health Centre, Yenezue-gene, Bayelsa State, Primary Health Centre, Abonema, Rivers State. “The foundation could not help but to give full medical support and attention to these neglected rural dwellers,” he added. According to him: “Within this period of operation, the Cottage Hospital recorded 10,000 patients from Warri South, Warri North, Warri South – West, Warri Urban, Burutu Local Government Areas, Edo, Bayelsa and Ondo states have successfully accessed the hospital.
“The hospital also recorded about 600 major and minor surgeries and about 500 successful deliveries. The foundation also built a new laboratory to accommodate state-of-the-art laboratory equipments waiting to be installed,” Bebenimibo revealed. Spent N320m before manhunt: A source hinted: “The ex-militant leader was spending about N8 million monthly on running the hospital, including free feeding for patients, it reduced to N5 million and later N3 million monthly as the cash crunch bit harder.
“In all, about N320 million was spent by him, including renovation and with the freezing of his account and manhunt for him by the EFCC and others, you cannot expect him to be running for his life and still be paying money to sustain what ordinarily is government responsibility to the citizens,” he added. Den of dangerous reptiles: Findings by NDV showed that dangerous reptiles have turned the health institution to their den, while weeds have overgrown the premises.
Source: Vanguard
ABUJA: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
PORTHARCOURT: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
LAGOS: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
STOP paying for airtime and electricity, Let your phone pay its bills with ScreenT
You may also like
FG Supports Robotic Surgery Expansion to Reduce Medical Tourism
Nigeria is taking another step toward strengthening specialised healthcare …
Complete Knee Replacement Rehabilitation Package in Lagos
Knee replacement surgery is a major step toward pain relief and improved mo…
NAMDA threatens strike over unpaid medical lecturers’ allowances
The Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) has warned…
Resident Doctors Signal End to Strike Threat After High-Level Talks with Gbajabiamila
The threat of a nationwide indefinite strike by the Nigerian Association of…
AMLSN Issues Strong Rejoinder to NAMDA on Public Service Establishment Matters
The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has rel…
