In a move aimed at improving emergency medical response and strengthening grassroots healthcare delivery, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has donated five ambulances to key public health facilities across Ogoniland in Rivers State.
The ambulances were handed over to Bori Zonal Hospital, Terabor General Hospital, Eleme General Hospital, Bodo General Hospital and Kpite Primary Health Care Centre at a ceremony held at the General Hospital, Nchia, Eleme.
Speaking at the event, the project coordinator of HYPREP, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, said the intervention was designed to close critical gaps in emergency response and patient referral within Ogoni communities.
According to Professor Zabbey, timely access to medical care remains a major determinant of health outcomes, adding that the ambulances will significantly reduce delays in transporting patients to facilities where specialised care is available.
The project coordinator reaffirmed the Project’s commitment to collaborating with the Rivers State Government and local councils to ensure that its interventions complement public health policies of the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Environment.
“HYPREP remains open to partnerships and collaborations across all areas of our mandate, as these are critical to the success, sustainability and credibility of the Project,” he said.
Beyond the ambulances, the professor highlighted series of ongoing public health interventions, including a public health study being conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organisation (IARC-WHO), the construction of a 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital and a 40-bed Buan Cottage Hospital, as well as periodic medical outreaches across Ogoni.
He noted that HYPREP has also strengthened several health facilities by providing modern diagnostic and laboratory equipment such as digital ultrasound systems, X-ray machines, chemical pathology and haematology analysers, microbiology laboratory equipment, theatre facilities and surgical instruments.
He further reiterated that to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services, HYPREP has installed 36-kilowatt solar power systems at Bodo General Hospital and Primary Health Care Centres in Nonwa, Onne, Kwawa and K-Dere, providing renewable energy solutions to support critical medical operations.
Zabbey disclosed that HYPREP’s 2026 policy focus is centred on completing and operationalising key infrastructure projects, including the Ogoni Specialist Hospital, the Buan Cottage Hospital and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, while deepening stakeholder engagement to deliver visible and measurable socio-economic benefits to Ogoni communities.
Receiving the ambulances on behalf of the Rivers State Government, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, described the donation as a strategic intervention that goes beyond environmental remediation to address the health and well-being of the people.
She noted that the ambulances would strengthen referral pathways and ensure efficient transfer of patients from primary and secondary health facilities to centers offering specialized care.
Credit: Leadership
