From Joe Obukata Ogbodu, Warri
The Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Cottage Hospital in Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State, has become a sombre symbol of neglect and lost hope, as residents continue to suffer from preventable deaths due to its non-functionality.
Despite a N596 million investment by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) in partnership with the Egbema-Gbaramatu Community Development Foundation (EGCDF), the hospital has remained closed and under-equipped since its handover to the Delta State Government in 2018.
President of the Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Bloc Communities Paul Toruwei, who lamented the situation, in a statement, called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to take responsibility for the neglect and correct the abnormality immediately.
He stated that the Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Cottage Hospital stands today as a stark symbol of abandonment, despite its noble origins and critical importance to the community it was built to serve.
“Every day, community members are dying from treatable illnesses because there are no staff, no equipment, and no medical care,” he lamented.
“Hundreds of lives—children, pregnant women, the elderly—have been lost simply because the hospital was built but never truly equipped or managed to serve the people.
“We have lost hundreds of souls—including children and pregnant women—as a direct result of this hospital not functioning. Conditions that should have been easily treated have become fatal due to the absence of prompt medical attention. The community mourns, not because help is impossible, but because it has been wilfully withheld.”
Toruwei stated that the facility was envisioned as a vital healthcare lifeline for a community that significantly contributes to the state’s economy through oil and gas operations, including Chevron’s offshore and onshore facilities, NPDC/Elcrest’s Opuama Flow Station, and upcoming projects by Sahara Energy and Conoil Nigeria Limited.
He lamented that despite these economic contributions, the community remains deprived of basic healthcare services.
Toruwei said that repeated appeals by community leaders for government intervention have fallen on deaf ears, stressing that the hospital remains without resident doctors, nurses, or technicians, and essential medical supplies are scarce.
“As a result, preventable conditions now claim lives daily, with community members mourning loved ones lost to ailments that could have been cured or managed in a functioning hospital.
“This neglect not only undermines the community’s health but also questions the government’s commitment to its social responsibilities.
“Polobubo is not a forgotten outpost; it is a critical economic and social hub,” Toruwei emphasised.
He called on the Delta State government to act now by deploying qualified staff, upgrading the equipment, and restoring the hospital’s operational capacity to save lives.
“The governor should urgently intervene to fulfil their obligations in order to save further loss of lives. The community demands immediate action to revive the hospital, including staffing, procurement of medical equipment, and sustainable funding, to ensure that healthcare is a right, not a privilege”, he added.
“Your Excellency, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, we remind you that Polobubo is not a forgotten outpost—it is one of Delta State’s most vital economic assets. Its people deserve more than neglect; they deserve life, dignity, and access to basic healthcare.
“As the community mourns its dead and continues to face daily health crises, the message is clear: the time for neglect has passed. The Polobubo (Tsekelewu) Cottage Hospital must be revived to serve as a beacon of hope and a testament to the government’s commitment to its people,” he said.
“The Polobubo (Tsekelewu) community has kept its part of the social contract—supporting the economy, enabling oil production, and accepting corporate presence. It is time for the government to honour its responsibility to protect and care for the people.
“Let the Polobubo Cottage Hospital live up to its purpose. Let it save lives—not be the reason lives are lost”, Toruwei appealed.