Residents of Aliagwa community in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State have received a major boost in healthcare delivery following the renovation and commissioning of a long-neglected health centre by Mrs Ogor Tony-Obuh, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the Ika South Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly.
The facility, which had deteriorated over the years, was handed over to the community on Wednesday after undergoing extensive rehabilitation aimed at improving medical services for residents.
Tony-Obuh said her decision to intervene was triggered by the poor condition of the centre, which she discovered during a visit to the area.
According to her, she was driving past the facility when she noticed its deplorable state and immediately contacted an engineer to assess the level of work required before commencing the renovation.
She said the condition of the health centre was deeply troubling, adding that no community should be left without a decent healthcare facility.
“Seeing fellow human beings subjected to such conditions broke my heart,” she said, while reaffirming her commitment to supporting projects that improve the lives of residents.
She noted that access to quality healthcare remained a key foundation for community development, stressing that a healthy population was essential for education, productivity and overall wellbeing.
Before the renovation, healthcare workers and residents said the facility faced years of neglect. Some residents recalled that medical staff had to use umbrellas to shield women in labour during rainy periods because of the poor condition of the building.
A nurse at the centre said the intervention had brought relief to workers who had endured difficult conditions for years.
The nurse explained that staff often relied on buckets and basins to manage leakages whenever it rained, despite several appeals for assistance.
Secretary of the Aliagwa Community, Mr Onyeonu Justice Vincent, described the renovation as a timely intervention after years of unsuccessful efforts to attract government attention.
“I personally wrote to the local government chairman three consecutive times detailing our desperate need for help, but we received no assistance,” Vincent said.
He added: “Mrs Tony-Obuh did not wait for official red tape—she saw a need and met it. This act of kindness shows exactly what she will accomplish when elected to the House of Assembly in 2027.”
Community Head, Diokpa Ezinas Mkpughe, praised the initiative, expressing happiness over the transformation of the health facility.
“I am overjoyed that our health centre has been transformed. May God promote, protect, and replenish her,” he said.
Residents also commended the intervention, with Mr John Ijeh saying the renovated centre had restored dignity and hope to healthcare delivery in the community.
The ceremony attracted political leaders and community stakeholders, including Chief Okibali of Oki, who described Tony-Obuh’s action as a demonstration of genuine concern for the people.
NDC LGA Chairman, Mr Clement Irabo, also applauded the project and urged residents to support initiatives focused on improving lives at the grassroots.
A resident of Abavo, Comrade Aigbe David, said the intervention reflected the kind of leadership many communities were seeking.
“Our issue is not personal with anyone; it is with the failed policies causing this quagmire.
”Leaders who solve real problems, like Mrs Tony-Obuh, show that the NDC represents the pathway to a better Nigeria,” he said.
Another resident, Mrs Uche, praised the candidate’s gesture, saying the condition of the health centre had previously represented government neglect.
“We will not make the mistake of electing docile leaders who only think about themselves. Mrs Ogor Tony-Obuh has shown that she truly has the interest of our people at heart,” she said.
Also, the President General of Aliagwa Community, Engr. V.O. Nwaokenye, commended Mrs Ogor Tony-Obuh, for her remarkable gesture in renovating the long-neglected Aliagwa Health Centre.
He described the intervention as a demonstration of genuine concern for the wellbeing of the people, noting that the rehabilitation of the facility would greatly improve healthcare delivery and provide a more conducive environment for both patients and medical personnel.
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He praised Tony-Obuh for responding to the urgent needs of the community and restoring hope to residents who had endured years of challenges due to the poor condition of the health centre.
According to him, the project reflects the importance of leaders who pay attention to the welfare of the people.
The president general expressed appreciation to Mrs Tony-Obuh for her commitment to community development, while urging other leaders and stakeholders to emulate the initiative by supporting projects that directly improve the lives of citizens.
