By Deborah Phillips
The 500-bed hospital project started by the administration of the former Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State remains abandoned.
Situated at Ingbi Road, Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, Melford Okilo Memorial Hospital was a cottage hospital before Sylva upgraded it.
He renamed the facility in memory of former Governor of Rivers State Chief Melford Okilo.
According to sources, contract of the hospital was given by the previous administration at the cost of N25bn.
But equipment purchased and stocked in a warehouse were never installed, while vehicles and ambulances procured were never used or returned; they are being left to rot away or already stolen.
The structure itself is dilapidated with some doors and windows broken. Also, bushes have taken over the whole environment.
Although, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, on assumption of office, promised that the hospital would be remodelled to a 350 bed hospital and put in proper use, nothing has been done till date.
A recent visit to the hospital showed that the hospital was still not in use.
Only the Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDs Research Center is functioning, while the Resident Doctors quarters is still under construction.
On 13th of December 2016, the Governor signed a memorandum of understanding at the government house Yenagoa, where he said his administration has already made relevant investments in the health sector.
He assured that the 350 bed Melford Okilo Memorial Hospital and other ongoing health projects in the state would be completed and put to use before the end of 2017.
Reacting, a source from Teru-Ebeni town in Sagbama local government area of Bayelsa state who pleaded anonymity said, “The contract of this hospital was awarded by Governor Timipre Sylva and has been abandoned by the present administration.
“You know Nigerian politicians lack the spirit of continuity. Once they are sworn in, they will want to start a new project that will bear their names instead of continuing from where their predecessors stopped. This is just a waste of our resources.”
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