By Rhoda Godwin, Yenagoa
Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Thursday inaugurated Oloibiri Health facility, launched Pilot Ogbia safe maternal and infant care, as road to promote universal coverage and systems in Oloibiri, Bayelsa.
Speaking at the event, Mr Osagie Okunbor, the Managing Director of SPDC said that Oloibiri community occupied a pride of place in the history of Nigeria’s oil and gas which, he said, necessitated the conception of Oloibiri Health Programme (OHP)/
Nigerian pilot recalls that, OHP was first commissioned by former Governor Seriake Dickson on July 30tg, 2019, and was implemented by Shell group to mark Nigeria’s centenary celebration.
He said Oloibiri Health Programme (OHP) depicts a deliberate suites of health projects that aims to achieve three broad objectives.
Okunbor said: “It was in Oloibiri that Shell made the nation’s first commercial quantity discovery of crude oil in 1958.
“That discovery is what has positioned Nigeria as a key player, providing energy to the world, wealth to the country and abundant opportunities to the Nigerian people.
“The relationship between SPDC and Bayelsa since that discovery has grown with the expected footprints of our operations and social investments spread across the state.
“Amidst this growth, Oloibiri remains the reference point for Nigeria’s oil and gas journey.
“It is in this light that the Shell group, as part of marking Nigeria’s centenary celebrations in 2014, conceived and began the implementation of the OHP to serve as a reference point in Nigeria for sustainable Primary Health Care delivery,” he said.
He said that Oloibiri Health Programme (OHP) is a multi-phased programme with several stakeholders as partners. The partners include the Bayelsa Ministry of Health, the Ogbia Local Government authorities, Federal University Otuoke, amongst others.
Governor Douye Diri, said that the intervention by SPDC complemented the efforts of his administration in the health sector.
He applauded SPDC for the gesture and urged other oil firms operating in the state to emulate the company, and also tasked them to reciprocate such in other senatorial district.
Diri, said Oloibiri is also great because it was the place of late Isaac Boro, the man who fought for the creation of Bayelsa and Rivers State.
He urged Oloibiri people to take the health centre seriously and ensure that they put it to use for the betterment of humanity.
” Let me appreciate SPDC and its partners for also prioritising healthcare in the state by initiating the OHP.
“This is a laudable development because it will go a long way in complementing the various steps and policies we have introduced to meet the health needs of our citizens in Ogbia local government area,” he said.
Also, King Charles Owaba, the Paramount Ruler of Ogbia Kingdom, urged SPDC to step up its efforts to ameliorate the adverse impact of oil exploration on the environment and people of the area.
Represented by Mr Ibiroma Ikuli, said Ogbia kingdom deserve the best from shell and Bayelsa government as the first place oil was first discovered in commercial quantity in 1958.
