Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Friday unveiled a renovated and fully equipped 105-bed zonal hospital in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, as part of efforts to improve access to healthcare across the state.
The governor said the facility was designed to provide quality medical services to residents of Omoku and surrounding communities, including parts of Egbema, Ndoni and Ahoada.
Fubara spoke during the commissioning of the hospital, stressing that his administration considered healthcare a key responsibility of government and had continued to invest in facilities that could meet the needs of residents.
He said the importance of healthcare could not be compared with material wealth because a person who loses money could recover it, while restoring lost health could be much more difficult.
According to the governor, the hospital would not serve Omoku alone but would provide medical support to a wider area of the Rivers West Senatorial District.
He said the location of the facility was also important because Omoku serves as a major oil and gas centre in Rivers State and therefore requires adequate healthcare services to support its growing population and economic activities.
Fubara called on residents, traditional rulers and community leaders to take responsibility for protecting the hospital, its medical equipment and other facilities against theft and vandalism.
He said the government had invested public funds in the project and expected the people who would benefit from it to ensure that the facility remained functional for many years.
The governor also said his administration remained committed to completing public projects according to required standards. He urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing reports about government projects.
The Oba of Ogbaland, Dr Nwachukwu Obi III, who served as the special guest of honour at the event, commended the Rivers State Government for projects carried out in the area.
The monarch said several communities had previously felt disconnected from the state because of poor roads and limited government presence, but recent infrastructure projects had changed the situation.
He pointed to the Elele-Omoku road and the Ahoada-Egbema road as examples of projects that had improved movement and connectivity in the area.
The traditional ruler also welcomed the completion of the hospital, noting that residents in the oil-producing region had faced health challenges that sometimes resulted in avoidable deaths.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Vincent Wachukwu, said the Omoku facility was a secondary healthcare centre strategically located in the Orashi region.
Wachukwu disclosed that the number of people seeking medical care in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni had increased by more than 200 per cent over the last three years.
According to him, attendance rose from about 58,914 patients to almost 225,400 by December 2025.
He also reported an increase of about 20 per cent in deliveries, skilled birth attendance and women completing at least four antenatal care visits, particularly in Omoku and Okwuzi.
The newly remodelled hospital has several medical sections, including outpatient clinics, a pharmacy, ECG and ultrasound rooms, accident and emergency services, a surgical theatre and radiology facilities.
The facility is expected to provide residents with access to more specialised medical services and reduce the need for patients to travel long distances in search of treatment.
Fubara said the state government would continue to invest in healthcare and other basic services as part of its effort to improve the living conditions of residents across Rivers State.