TECHNICAL PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR OGONI SPECIALIST HOSPITAL SUBMITS REPORT, PROPOSES ACCCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR ALL OGONIs
As the Ogoni Specialist Hospital hits 78.2% completion, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), yesterday at the Project Coordination Office, received the Report from the Professor Christie Mato led 14-man Technical Planning Committee for the Operationalisation of the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital.
The Report made key positions and recommendations including, legal framework, governance structure, operational model, scope of services and human resources. Other recommendations are funding strategy, power sources, waste management and environmental protection and Monitoring & Evaluation.
Professor Mato said the overarching target of the Report is to ensure the sustainable operationalisation of the OSH, and foster access to quality health care for the Ogoni people. The Report emphasises that the conceptualisation and establishment of the Ogoni Specialist Hospital by HYPREP is a crucial step towards addressing the long-neglected environmental damage and its health effects in Ogoni, adding that the initiative will fill the significant gaps in specialist healthcare services in the region and beyond.
Commending the Committee for a detailed report, Prof. Zabbey stated that the Ogoni Specialist Hospital will significantly enhance the public health landscape in Ogoni, providing quality healthcare services to the people and vital infrastructure that will improve health outcomes and save lives.
According to the PC:
” Alongside the ongoing construction of the Buan Cottage Hospital, the human biomonitoring study, the strengthening of hospitals and health centres, regular medical outreaches, and the planned distribution of ambulances to medical facilities, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital represents a strategic effort by HYPREP to address the longstanding health services gap, in line with UNEP’s recommendations for Ogoniland”
The PC stated that when completed, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital would operate as a referral hub, providing quality specialised healthcare, while reducing the burden of accessing distant urban tertiary medical services.
He assured that the Project Coordination Office will promptly forward the report to the Governing Council for its approval and added that the Project will take appropriate steps, in collaboration with relevant partners to implement the recommendations in the overall public interest.
Prof Zabbey called on all Ogoni communities to continue to support the Federal Government’s efforts through HYPREP by protecting the critical infrastructure, including the specialist hospital being provided for their benefits.
Legborsi Saro Pygbara, former President of MOSOP, who is also a member of the TPC said the gesture marks a significant step towards bringing accessible quality healthcare to the Ogoni people.
The 14-man Technical Planning Committee for the Ogoni Specialist Hospital which was inaugurated in May 2025, is composed of the following seasoned academics, administrators, health practitioners and community stakeholders as members. They are:
- Professor Christie Mato Chairperson
- Professor Charles Tobin-West Member
- Mr Legborsi Saro Pygbara Member
- Dr Kennedy Nkporbu Member
- Professor Vincent Idemyor Member
- Dr Richard Okoye Member
- Professor Rosemary Ogu Member
- Dr Leziga Kinanen Member
- Dr Leziga Ndii Member
10.Dr Mube William Member - Dr Lebatam Ndegwe Member
- Dr Tombari Gbeneol Member
- Dr Nsikak Abasi Ntia Member
- Dr Kpoobari Nkpaa Secretary.
When completed, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital, one of HYPREP’s public health interventions, will have the following departments, viz, Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Opthalmology, Dentistry, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pediatrics, Cardiology among others.
