The Technical Planning Committee (TPC) for the Ogoni Specialist Hospital, has submitted its report to the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), outlining a comprehensive framework for the sustainable operationalisation of the 100-bed specialist facility, as construction reaches 78.2 per cent completion.
The report was formally presented on Tuesday at the Project Coordination Office to the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, by the 14-member committee led by Prof Christie Mato.
In its submissions, the committee made far-reaching recommendations covering the legal and governance framework, operational model, scope of services, human resources, funding strategy, power supply, waste management, environmental protection, as well as monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. The report is aimed at ensuring that the Ogoni Specialist Hospital (OSH) is efficiently managed and sustainably operated to deliver quality healthcare services to the Ogoni people.
Speaking during the presentation, Prof Mato said the overarching goal of the report is to guarantee sustainable operations of the hospital while fostering equitable access to quality healthcare for Ogoni communities, and noted that the establishment of the hospital by HYPREP represents a critical intervention in addressing the long-standing environmental degradation and associated health challenges in Ogoniland.
According to her, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital will help bridge major gaps in specialist healthcare services in the region and its environs, particularly in response to health issues linked to decades of environmental pollution.
Commending the committee for what he described as a detailed and well-researched report, Prof Zabbey said the hospital would significantly transform the public health landscape in Ogoni, stressing that the facility would provide quality healthcare services, improve health outcomes and ultimately save lives.
Prof Zabbey further explained that the specialist hospital is part of a broader health intervention strategy by HYPREP, which includes the ongoing construction of the Buan Cottage Hospital, a human biomonitoring study, the strengthening of existing hospitals and health centres, regular medical outreaches, and the planned distribution of ambulances to healthcare facilities across Ogoniland. These interventions, he said, align with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on Ogoniland.
He added that, when completed, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital will function as a referral hub, offering specialised medical services and reducing the need for residents to travel long distances to access tertiary healthcare in urban centres.
The HYPREP Project Coordinator assured that the report would be promptly forwarded to the Governing Council for consideration and approval, noting that the project would work with relevant partners to implement the recommendations in the overall public interest.
Prof Zabbey also called on Ogoni communities to continue supporting the Federal Government’s efforts through HYPREP by safeguarding critical infrastructure, including the specialist hospital, being provided for their benefit.
Also speaking, a member of the Technical Planning Committee and former President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Mr Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, described the development as a significant milestone towards making quality healthcare accessible to the Ogoni people.
The Technical Planning Committee for the Ogoni Specialist Hospital was inaugurated in May, 2025 and comprises seasoned academics, health professionals, administrators and community stakeholders. Members include Prof Christie Mato (Chairperson); Prof Charles Tobin-West,; Mr Legborsi Saro Pyagbara; Dr Kennedy Nkporbu; Prof Vincent Idemyor; Dr Richard Okoye; Prof Rosemary Ogu; Dr Leziga Kinanen; Dr Leziga Ndii; Dr Mube William; Dr Lebatam Ndegwe; Dr Tombari Gbeneol; Dr Nsikak Abasi Ntia, with Dr Kpoobari Nkpaa serving as Secretary.
When completed, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital, one of HYPREP’s flagship public health interventions will house key departments including Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Ophthalmology, Dentistry, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Cardiology, among others.
Comments
Post a Comment