Enugu community raises concerns over siting of general hospital

Concerned indigenes of Oji River Council in Enugu State have raised the alarm over the location of the only general hospital in the council in a leprosy rehabilitation settlement.

Under the aegis of Save Oji River Initiative (SORI), they also raised worries over the parlous state of public infrastructure in the area, accusing “political stakeholders” of causing under-development in the council through primitive acquisition.

Addressing reporters shortly after a prayer rally for divine intervention in the area, convener of SORI, Kingsley Okah, said despite the money that had been coming into Oji River, the town had remained in pitiable state.

He said: “If you look at Oji River as it stands today, you will have no option than to accept that the leadership has crumbled, governance has crumbled. Men of conscience who have kept quiet will no longer continue to keep quiet. Hence our coming up at this point in time to create awareness in the midst of our people on the basis upon which good governance we are asking for is predicated.”

The group said the location of the hospital inside the near-abandoned leprosy settlement centre has continued to generate negative reactions from indigenes.

The missionaries established the centre in the 1930s.