Residents of Ogbele Community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State are raising the alarm over the flooding of their community health centre, warning that the situation is threatening healthcare delivery and putting patients and health workers at risk.
The community has issued an appeal to the Rivers State Government, Aradel Holdings Plc, and the Honourable Member representing Ahoada East Constituency II in the Rivers State House of Assembly, urging them to step in swiftly to address the crisis.
The situation carries added weight given Ogbele’s ties to both institutions: the community is the host of Aradel Holdings Plc’s operations and also the hometown of the lawmaker representing the area in the state assembly.
Residents say these connections make the current state of the health facility a pressing concern that both parties are well positioned to help resolve.
Health workers and residents describe a facility overwhelmed by floodwaters, with basic operations disrupted and access to care for patients made increasingly difficult.
Beyond the physical damage, there are growing fears about hygiene, the safety of medical equipment and supplies, and the broader risk of waterborne infections spreading in the area if the situation is not brought under control soon.
In their appeal, residents called on the state government to urgently inspect the health centre and take immediate steps to restore it to a safe, functional state.
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They noted that leaving the facility in its current condition could have serious consequences for a community that depends on it, particularly in emergencies where quick access to healthcare can be a matter of life and death.
The community also directed a specific appeal to Aradel Holdings Plc, urging the company to support flood mitigation efforts as part of its responsibility to its host community.
Residents argued that the company’s continued presence and operations in Ogbele make its involvement in resolving the crisis both fitting and necessary.
Similarly, they called on their representative in the State House of Assembly to use his position to draw attention to the community’s plight and mobilize the support needed to address it without further delay.
Residents emphasized that the health centre is not a luxury but a lifeline for Ogbele and neighbouring communities, especially in cases of medical emergencies where no alternative facility is readily accessible.
They warned that continued neglect of the flooding could force residents to travel long distances for basic healthcare, worsening outcomes for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children, and the elderly.
As floodwaters persist, the community is appealing to all stakeholders- government, corporate, and political- to act quickly, stressing that further delay could deepen the health crisis already unfolding in Ogbele.
