By Paul Chimodo
In the heart of Rivers State, Nigeria, two communities, Okujagu and Ojimba, have been struggling with the harsh realities of neglect and abandonment for decades. Despite being home to over 5,000 people, these communities have seen little to no development in the areas of education, health, transportation, water supply, and power. The once-thriving communities have been left to fend for themselves, with the government’s absence felt deeply.
The communities’ lack of access to healthcare facilities has been particularly devastating. Women narrate their horrifying experiences of traveling by canoe to Port Harcourt for medical care, only to be met with unavailability of medical personnel and equipment. The community’s pleas for help have fallen on deaf ears, as government officials have been unmoved by their plight.
One of the women, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted the tragic story of her daughter’s death due to a lack of medical care. “When my daughter was sick, we had to take her to Port Harcourt because there was no doctor or hospital in our community. But even in Port Harcourt, there was no bed space for her. She died because we couldn’t get her the medical attention she needed.”
The community’s water supply has also been non-existent for over 20 years. Villagers are forced to rely on makeshift water sources that appear contaminated by Spirogyra. The lack of clean water has led to a high rate of waterborne diseases in the community.
The situation is dire, with the community’s well-being at risk due to the lack of access to clean water and healthcare facilities. The community development committee chairman of Ojimba community, Tony Trust, called on government at all levels to come to their aid, stating that the lack of portable water has caused several deaths.
“We are tired of this suffering. We die every day because we don’t have access to basic amenities like healthcare and clean water. We are crying out for help, but it seems like nobody is listening,” Trust said.
The acting general manager of Rivers rural water supply and sanitation agency, Napoleon Adah, expressed shock over the absence of portable water supply in the communities but assured that the government is committed to addressing the issue across the state.
“We are aware of the challenges faced by these communities, and we are working hard to address them. We will ensure that these communities have access to clean water and healthcare facilities,” Adah said.
As the cases of cholera continue to rise across the country, it is imperative that the state government addresses the issue of access to portable water and healthcare facilities in these communities with a sense of urgency. The people of Okujagu and Ojimba are crying out for help, and it is our duty to amplify their voices and demand action from those in power.
The government’s neglect of these communities has been a long-standing issue. In 2020, the community came together to contribute money to hire people with health ideas to educate their people and provide healthcare services. However, despite their efforts, they have seen little progress.
“We are tired of relying on ourselves for everything. We need help from the government to improve our lives,” Trust said.
The people of Okujagu and Ojimba are not asking for much – just basic amenities like healthcare facilities and clean water. It is our duty as a society to ensure that every individual has access to these basic necessities.
