By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) said it is committed in ensuring that Ogoni people get access to quality healthcare services through effective medical attention.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey,made this known when he visited Nchia General Hospital, venue of HYPREP free medical outreach recently.
He said through its project, various public health programmes and interventions were made.
“Medical services and surgical operations were carried out on patients with several ailments, including cataract, hernia, and fibroid”.
Prof Zebby noted that “The HYPREP free medical outreach commenced on the 16th of December, 2024 is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that has recorded a huge number of beneficiaries across four local government areas.
“Where over 60 patients were scheduled for cataract operation but the number increased to over 100, which lead to the extension of the project “, he said .
He also reiterated his commitment to continuing to prioritize the healthcare and public health programmes to Ogoni people.
He said by 2025 the completion and operationalization of Buan Cottage and 100-bed ogoni specialist hospitals will provide primary and tertiary health services.
He maintained that “This is to strengthen primary healthcare centres in Bodo in Gokana, Taabaa in Khana, Nonwa in Tai, and Onne in Eleme, construction of a hostel and renovation of the K-Dere Health Centre”.
He said that this will promote community medicine in the region . “There will be a start of public health study of Ogoni to be conducted by the International Agency for Research in Cancer-World Health Organization(WHO) in partnership will local institutions.
“The human biomonitoring study is expected to run for 3 years”, he said .
Similarly,The PC HYPREP is collaborating with Drosophila Institute of the University of Ibadan on latest research that will alleviate the impact of hydrocarbon contamination on Ogoni people.
He said that the collaboration would also contribute significantly to advancing the knowledge of medicine in relation to hydrocarbon contamination globally.
Zabbey said that the project was implementing the UNEP Report based on the needs of Ogoni people.
“We feel it is important to advance access to medicare; we will continue to do our best to broaden the scope of our interventions based on the needs of the people while also implementing the UNEP Report”.
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