By Emma Amaize & Akpokona Omafuaire
WARRI—THE Tompolo Foundation, TPF, a charity organisation, established by ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has renovated the only hospital in Okerenkoko community, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, with over N20 million.
The hospital, allegedly abandoned by government, serves over 80 coastal communities in the state. It was built by Niger-Delta Development Commission, NDDC, about six years ago and was taken over by Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, after the bombardment of the Okerenkoko and other Ijaw towns in 2009 by the Joint Task Force.
However, after the exit of Chief Wellington Okirika as DESOPADEC chairman, the commission neglected the hospital. Tompolo Foundation took over the hospital and renovated same.
The Foundation engaged 25 staff, including six medical doctors, five nurses/matron and 14 support workers for a comprehensive free health delivery with state-of-the-art equipment.
Speaking at the re-opening ceremony, Commissioner representing Ijaw ethnic nationality in DESOPADEC, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, assured that negotiations were ongoing at DESOPADEC and at the state government level to rebuild and rehabilitate the structures devastated in the wake of the 2009 military invasion.
Otuaro lauded the Foundation for “this very commendable gesture of renovating” the health institution.”
Comments are moderated. Please keep them clean and brief.