The lawmaker representing Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Farah Dagogo has raised the alarm that given the imminent take-off of the Nigeria LNG Train 7 project among other high value projects should there be an outbreak of an epidemic or major health crisis in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, there is no medical facility there to respond adequately to contain the situation.
Hon. Dagogo stated this during a One-Day Public Hearing held by the House of Representatives on a bill he proposed for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in Bonny, Rivers State on Wednesday, December 9, 2021 in Abuja.
This is as support for the establishment of the Bonny Medical Centre thickened with stakeholders including two former members of the House of Representatives, Hon. Randolph Brown and Hon. Tonye Longjohn, throwing their weight behind the bill.
Hon. Dagogo lamented the healthcare neglect Bonny Kingdom was facing despite being host to the multi-billion Dollar Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) plant and facilities of other oil multinationals, expressing concern that despite the surge in population occasioned by increased industrial activities in the area, especially, the construction of the Train 7 and the attendant influx of foreigners, there is near absence of health facilities.
“No medical centre in the area (Bonny) can withstand an outbreak of serious epidemic or hazards caused by industrial or social related activities. The absence of a good healthcare facility is a concern to the residents, and this has led to vociferous calls and clamour for the provision of an improved health care system, hence, this Bill, which seeks to establish a Federal Medical Centre in Bonny, Rivers State in order to assuage the health needs of the people, given its peculiar location, and the related industrial activities ongoing in the Island.”
He referenced the height of the Covid-19 period in the island and the helplessness Bonny people had to grapple with, appealing to the participants to correct the wrong of the past by supporting the passage of the bill.
“Bonny Island experienced greatly the negative impacts of COVID 19, occasioned by the influx of foreigners. The surge in cases of COVID 19 pandemic, coupled with the case of death of strange fishes found around Bonny – Andoni waterway led to many deaths in the Island that even attracted the attention of the both Chambers of the National Assembly. These two issues stretched the primary health care centres in the area and human security was therefore at risk.”
In her presentation at the hearing, Bonny Kingdom, through the Chief and Head of John-Jumbo Chieftaincy House, Se-Alabo Charles John-Jumbo, who led a high powered delegation of the Kingdom, declared that by virtue of what Bonny gives to the country in terms of revenue and the absence of any Federal Medical Centre in Rivers State, Bonny should have a Federal Medical Centre because she has what it takes and deserves a Medical Centre”.
He pointed out that Bonny Kingdom has continued to provide a conducive atmosphere for high value investments of the Federal Government to thrive, but unfortunately, has not gotten commensurate attention.
In his presentation, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora commended the federal lawmakers for responding to the needs of their constituents, regretting, however, that the Ministry is facing paucity of funds that could be a hindrance to the establishment of the requested Medical Centre in Bonny.
On her part, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Legal, in the ministry, Mrs. Ati Amali, said the Ministry is not opposed to the idea of a Medical Centre provided it fulfilled all legislative processes.
Checks by Kristina Reports indicate that the number and capacity of health facilities in Bonny were inadequate. Not only are they few, they are understaffed, under-equipped, with no secondary medical facility to handle referrals in special medical cases.
Some medical doctors, who spoke to Kristina Reports in confidence, lamented a situation where they have to refer patients with special cases to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH), among others in Port Harcourt, which is an hour’s journey on the sea from Bonny. Many a time, the patients are pronounced dead on arrival by the time their families and friends are able to get them there. Some have had to stay at home and face their imminent deaths due to lack of funds to make the trip to Port Harcourt.
The Minister of Health saying there is paucity of funds is not being truthful, almost all projects earmarked for both the West and Northern parts of this country runs into billions and are awarded,how much more the area that backbones the financial supply of Nigeria.
The same they get projects for the North and West approved, let them do the needful, this project is of necessity and very important. Government must place priority on this need considering also the ups upstreaming of the Train 7 with over 12 thousand workers on site.