Edith CHUKU
Littered in many communities across Rivers State, are abandoned dilapidated government-owned facilities, such as schools and hospitals, which should serve as essential centers for education and healthcare.
Hospitals and schools are major public facilities considered as the backbone of any society, as it supports the community well-being, safety, and economic activity, as well as development of the people.
The systemic decay of some of these government entities, have become worrisome and fixing them, morally imperative before the consequences become irreversible.
The Elele Alimini General Hospital, is one of such largely neglected public facility, urgently calling for government intervention to revive it from its collapsed state.
The general hospital in the Emohua Local Government Area of the state, once played a vital role as a critical healthcare hubs, bridging the gap between primary health centers and specialized institutions.
It provided emergency care, maternal services, and treatment for illnesses, reducing the need for long-distance travel to larger facilities in Port Harcourt and surrounding towns.
For over 15 years now, what is remaining of Elele Alimini General Hospital is a skeletal structure, the hospital has slipped into decline, staff laid off, services halted, infrastructure left to decay, wards overtaken by weeds, equipment either looted or abandoned, and buildings left at the mercy of time.
In an interview with TNN on Saturday, a former Elele Alimini Community Development Committee Secretary, Mr Joseph Asomeji, revealed the frustrating impact of the abandoned general hospital on residents, especially pregnant women in the community.
His words: “The state of Elele Alimini General Hospital is worrisome. It requires urgent intervention. Elele Alimini as a community does not have even a primary health center, the women who are supposed to deliver they run as far as going to Ahoada, Elele, Rumuji to access health care which is very, very worrisome.
“If the government can at least come and repair a section of it and then station medical officers to stay and take care of the primary health needs of the people.”
Asomeji explained that, “the administration of Chief Tom Aliezi, when he was local government chairman he tried to build a cottage hospital for the community aside the general hospital.
“When Chidi Lloyd came, Chidi Lloyd deroofed the building, after that, he abandoned it. Omereji came, Omereji continued that project, it was left to equip it, Omereji was sacked, up till now, that side is now a place where goat and criminal elements use as a hide out. It’s a problem.”
On behalf of Elele Alimini community, Asomeji called on Rivers State and federal government to “as a matter of urgency come to our aid to ensure that Elele Alimini General Hospital is put to good use.
“We also heard that the member representing Ikwerre Emohua Federal Constituency, Hon. Boniface Emerengwa, has presented a motion at the floor of the national assembly for the establishment of federal medical center Elele Alimini. That is to say that the Elele Alimini General Hospital will be converted to federal medical center, they said the report has passed through first and second reading, we don’t know, but some of the structures are there, the lands are there.”
He further revealed that the paramount ruler of the community, His Royal Highness, Eze Peter W Wagbara, who is a former commissioner of Police in the state, assured of adequate security during renovation of the hospital.
“The paramount ruler assured that if it is security, as a former commissioner of Police, anything about security is guaranteed. We need government intervention as regards to Elele Alimini General Hospital.”
