Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has promised to give a facelift to the general hospital in Odi community as part of its efforts to strengthen quality healthcare service delivery to the people.
This is contained in a statement on Tuesday in Yenagoa by Mr Daniels Iworiso-Markson, the Chief Press Secretary to Dickson.
According to the statement, the governor made the pledge while flagging off the 58th edition of Odi festival, “Ogori Ba Uge Festival” in Odi community, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
“Despite the drop in revenues accruing to Bayelsa, we will complete work on the renovation of Odi General Hospital to improve healthcare delivery in the area.
“Odi, as one of the biggest communities in Ijaw land and very supportive people to the PDP, deserves more dividends of democracy.
“Our decision to re-award the general hospital contract was informed by the policy of completing every people-oriented project within the limits of available resources.
“We are not only going to renovate hospital, we will also build a befitting pavilion for the community to be holding its social functions,” Dickson said.
The governor described the festival as one for unity and love and urged the people to always forge a common united front to attract more development to the area.
Dickson, who also unveiled an art work depicting a hunter and the killer of the Ogori (buffalo) in the area, commended the people for their oneness.
Meanwhile, Mr Amaitari Melo, the Secretary of the festival Planning Committee explained that the event was designed to commemorate the people, who killed the rampaging buffalo in the community many years ago.
Melo said that the buffalo first appeared at the Mission Primary School in the community in 1953 and killed a total of five people, injuring several others, before it was gunned down on July 27, 1957.
Chief Millionaire Asangba, the Spokesman for Odi Traditional Ruler, “Amadaowei of Odi”, thanked the governor for his development strides in the community and the state at large.
