By Ismail M. Kabir
It has come to our notice the deplorable state of Okengwe general hospital at a period that Nigeria is confronted with the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). During a recent assessment visit to the hospital by concerned citizens of Ebiraland to ascertain areas of need, the hospital was found to be in a highly deplorable, inhuman and unclinical state that demands urgent intervention.
Patients lamented the sorry state of the hospital which they blamed on undue negligence on the part of the state government. Patients and their caregivers bitterly complained about inadequate drugs and sanitary materials in the hospital. They also berated the lack of beddings and related equipments required to aid speedy recovery of admitted patients.
The hospital which is supervised by Hospital Management Board has evidently not enjoyed structural maintenance for many years. Leaking roofs, bushy premises, damaged plumbing works and deteriorated window frames portray the hospital as not less of an abandoned health center.
CIHP, a United States’ agency for international support to HIV positive people recently conducted partial renovation to face-lift the maternity section of the hospital that from its previous dusty appearance.
Members of Ebira civil society groups including Perfect House of Friends (PHF) are considering a written petition to the authorities tasked with the responsibility of adequate upkeep of the hospital for the overall well-being of the ailing members of the host community.
A youth in the community who preferred anonymity said the youths in Okengwe and its environs are seriously bordered about poor presence of public facility in the community that is home to the current speaker of the state’s House of Assembly.
He decried the bad state of the road network in the community, the hijack of the famous Ohu Manaka - the only market in the area – by desperate land owners thereby killing the economic potential of the community.
Access to portable water is a mirage in Okengwe where some residents rely mostly on Okuha Anatahu, a river running from the high mountain for their daily water need.
Okengwe is a town strategically located along Lagos road, connecting commuters from other parts of the country to the south-west. The poor health service available to the resident of the area has led to transportation of sick patients and accident victims to farther towns of Okene and Lokoja for proper medical attention.
The chairman of Okengwe welfare association could not be reached for comment as at the time of filing this report.
It has come to our notice the deplorable state of Okengwe general hospital at a period that Nigeria is confronted with the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). During a recent assessment visit to the hospital by concerned citizens of Ebiraland to ascertain areas of need, the hospital was found to be in a highly deplorable, inhuman and unclinical state that demands urgent intervention.
Patients lamented the sorry state of the hospital which they blamed on undue negligence on the part of the state government. Patients and their caregivers bitterly complained about inadequate drugs and sanitary materials in the hospital. They also berated the lack of beddings and related equipments required to aid speedy recovery of admitted patients.
The hospital which is supervised by Hospital Management Board has evidently not enjoyed structural maintenance for many years. Leaking roofs, bushy premises, damaged plumbing works and deteriorated window frames portray the hospital as not less of an abandoned health center.
CIHP, a United States’ agency for international support to HIV positive people recently conducted partial renovation to face-lift the maternity section of the hospital that from its previous dusty appearance.
Members of Ebira civil society groups including Perfect House of Friends (PHF) are considering a written petition to the authorities tasked with the responsibility of adequate upkeep of the hospital for the overall well-being of the ailing members of the host community.
A youth in the community who preferred anonymity said the youths in Okengwe and its environs are seriously bordered about poor presence of public facility in the community that is home to the current speaker of the state’s House of Assembly.
He decried the bad state of the road network in the community, the hijack of the famous Ohu Manaka - the only market in the area – by desperate land owners thereby killing the economic potential of the community.
Access to portable water is a mirage in Okengwe where some residents rely mostly on Okuha Anatahu, a river running from the high mountain for their daily water need.
Okengwe is a town strategically located along Lagos road, connecting commuters from other parts of the country to the south-west. The poor health service available to the resident of the area has led to transportation of sick patients and accident victims to farther towns of Okene and Lokoja for proper medical attention.
The chairman of Okengwe welfare association could not be reached for comment as at the time of filing this report.
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