Ogoni specialist hospital nears completion, committee recommends FMC status
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has announced that the construction of the Ogoni Specialist Hospital (OSH) has reached 78.2 per cent completion, marking a major milestone in efforts to improve healthcare services in Ogoniland.
Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, disclosed the progress during a presentation by the Technical Planning Committee for the Operationalisation of OSH, led by Professor Christy Mato, at the HYPREP office in Port Harcourt.
The committee presented its report on strategies to ensure the sustainability and effective operation of the hospital.
Zabbey emphasised the importance of the committee’s work, noting that its planning, consultations, and assessments are critical to completing construction and transitioning the hospital into full operation.
“The Ogoni Specialist Hospital is a central component of the multilayered public health interventions being implemented by HYPREP in Ogoniland,” Zabbey said.
“Alongside the Buan Cottage Hospital, ongoing human biomonitoring studies, strengthening of existing health centers, regular medical outreaches, and planned ambulance distribution, OSH will significantly improve health outcomes in the region.”
He added that the hospital, once completed, would serve as a referral hub offering quality, specialized care, reducing the burden on residents who currently travel long distances to urban tertiary medical facilities.
“We are confident that OSH will transform the public health landscape in Ogoni, providing critical healthcare services and saving lives,” he said.
Zabbey commended the technical committee for completing its mandate and assured that the Project Coordination Office would forward the report to the HYPREP Governing Council for consideration.
Upon approval, the office will collaborate with stakeholders to implement the committee’s recommendations.
Highlighting the role of local communities in ensuring the hospital’s success, Zabbey urged residents to protect the infrastructure, stressing that sustainability depends on community ownership, vigilance, and care.
During the presentation, Professor Christy Mato called for the federal government to officially recognise OSH as equivalent to a Federal Medical Center (FMC), with all associated rights and privileges.
She also recommended that OSH be included as a primary provider under the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) to ensure residents have access to comprehensive health coverage and reduced out-of-pocket medical costs.
On specialised services, the committee emphasised the need for cancer care facilities, describing them as a vital step in addressing long-standing health challenges linked to hydrocarbon pollution in Ogoniland.
Mato also recommended that OSH operate as a multi-specialty center, prioritizing cancer treatment and research alongside comprehensive ophthalmological services.
Mato expressed gratitude to HYPREP for entrusting the committee with the project, noting that their work would benefit both the Ogoni people and humanity at large.
