Residents of coastal Madangho, an Itsekiri enclave in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, have appealed to President Bola Tinubu, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the International Oil Companies (IOCs) to rebuild the only cottage hospital burnt down in 2023 during crisis.
The National Vice Chairman of Ugborodo Community, under which Madangho is situated, made the plea on Wednesday while appreciating operatives of the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Escravos of the Nigerian Navy (NN) for providing a free medical outreach to folks in the community.
Our correspondent reports that hundreds of the community residents, comprising youths and elders of both genders, benefited from the free health services that were provided at no cost to the coastal community..
The FOB Escravos is under the jurisdiction and control of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS), Delta.
The free medical exercise featured: free medical consultations, health education, free medication for common ailments, blood pressure and sugar checks and distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, among others.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Navy Capt. Olayinka Aliu, the Commanding Officer of FOB Escravos, said that the initiative was in line with the Operation Delta Sanity 111.
He added that the exercise was part of the effort of the FOB Escravos to reciprocate the good hospitality it had enjoyed over the years with the host community.
“As part of the effort of the NN to ensure we have a safe and clean environment devoid of crude oil theft.
“The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla.on July 10, 2024 launched the Operation Delta Sanity 111 with two front approaches, kinetic and non-kinetic
“The spirit of the non-kinetic approach of the Operation Delta Sanity is the reason the FOB Escravos is conducting a free medical Rhapsody to our host community.
“We have been enjoying a good relationship with the Madangho Community, so, it behoves us to also give back to them in our own little ways.
“We work tirelessly with the youth of the community to arrest perpetrators of crude oil theft. They have been very supportive,” he said.
The commanding officer said that those that required additional medical attention would be referred to the Naval Reference hospital in Warri.
Aliu also said that some of the free medical services included: Eye, Blood Pressure (BP), Sugar and Malaria check and treatment.
He, therefore, urged the people to take advantage of the opportunity and conduct their medical examination.
The navy captain said that Surgeon, Optometrists Nurses and other medical experts from the Naval Reference hospital in Warri were on ground to attend to the people.
Also responding on behalf of the community, Mr Solomon Uwawah thanked the FOB Escravos for the laudable gesture.
Uwawah, who is the head of the community leaders in Madangho, told journalists corroborated Laju’s claim that there was no clinic in the community.
According to him, the only cottage hospital in the community was razed down during the 2003 crisis.
“This is a very laudable exercise and the first of its kind in Madangho Community.
“There is no clinic in this community since the cottage hospital was burnt down,” he said.
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Reiterating his earlier plea, Laju noted that the NN health initiative would further help to enhance the already existing relationship between the FOB Escravos and the host community.
He further appealed to both the Federal and State governments to bring development to the Madangho Community, stressing that the cottage hospital that was razed should be rebuilt for the benefit of pregnant women and children in the creeks.
“On behalf of the Madangho Community, I thank the NN. We have not experienced this kind of gesture before now. It shows the love you have for our community.
“I am begging the Federal Government and calling on the International Oil Companies (IOCs) to look into Madangho situation and build the cottage hospital that was burnt down in 2003,” he said.
