EX-militant leader in the Niger Delta Region, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) has offered explanation why he was handing over the ultra modern Okerenkoko Cottage Hospital, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State to the State Government.
Our Correspondent reports that the Cottage Hospital was built by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Commissioned by former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan January,15, 2008 and DESOPADEC took over its running after its inauguration, but not for too long.
Tompolo, explained to the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Azinge when he inspected the abandoned Okerenkoko Cottage that he single-handedly managed the Hospital for two years in order to bring free medical services nearer to people in river communities of the State and beyond.
The ex-militant Leader who spoke through the Executive Secretary of the Tompolo Foundation, Comrade Paul Bebenimibo disclosed that he injected over #400 million into the running of the Cottage Hospital for two years, revealing that the Foundation provided free medical services for the people for two years.
He revealed that; "After it was built and Commissioned and handed over to the State Government and it was ran by DESOPADEC on behalf of the State Government it became abandoned after the 2009 invasion of Gbaramatu Kingdom by the Army and in 2013, the Tompolo Foundation took over the running.From 2013 to August, 2015, the Foundation spent over #400 Million running the Cottage Hospital and at a point we were unable to continue as a result of funds and the Foundation wrote to the Government to take over the running of the Cottage Hospital".
Comrade Bebenimibo who was accompanied by the Director of Health Project, Tompolo Foundation, Dr Clarkson Agagha added that; "In August 2015, we wrote a letter to the Delta State Government that we could no longer run the hospital and we asked the Government to take over the responsibility. That is what the Government has just responded to and they have come to inspect the place. And from their comments, they have confirmed that the Okerenkoko Cottage Hospital is a good one that cannot be abandoned".
He also said that;"I want to call on the Government to match words with action and come in immediately to bring a relief back to the people because this community is in a very difficult terrain and for people to be able to have access to health care is a very difficult task. For instance if someone is having a health challenge, the nearest place from here is Warri. The finance is not even there to take care of such problems. So it is a good thing that the government has decided to listen to the people by coming to access the cottage hospital and we hope that very soon we are going to gather here once again in a ceremony to witness the hand over to the State Government by the Tompolo Foundation. The Foundation ran the Cottage Hospital successfully for good two years providing free medical services to the people".
Our Correspondent also reports that the Health Commissioner was accompanied by the Chairman, Hospital Management Board, Dr Mordi Ononye and Hon Tonye Timi, Chairman, House Committee on Health, Delta State House of Assembly.
Danis O.
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