By: Felix Ikpotor
Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has reiterated its unflinching commitment to the delivery of efficient public health services in Ogoni communities.
The Project said the commitment is pursuant to its core mandates and recommendations by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey stated this in a statement to commemorate the World Health Day on April 7, 2026.
“As the World reflects on this important day, which highlights pressing global health issues and mobilizes action to improve public health outcomes, HYPREP believes everyone deserves good health and no one should be left behind in global plans of providing accessible and affordable health services to all citizens, which aligns with the theme for the World Health Day, 2026: “Together for health. Stand with Science.”
“In celebrating this year’s World Health Day, HYPREP further reassures its focused and determined efforts to achieving the UNEP report recommendation for “a focused medical study to track the health of the Ogoni community over their lifetimes to ensure any possible health impacts are identified early enough and acted upon,” Zabbey stated.
In carrying out this mandate, the Project Coordinator said HYPREP had engaged the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to conduct an internationally acceptable Human Biomonitoring Study in Ogoni.
Also, Zabbey said as part of efforts to improve access to public health services in Ogoni, HYPREP has strengthened some hospitals in the area with state-of-the art equipment, provided a solar- powered electricity supply, and donated ambulances to support swift emergency response and referral services.
”This underscores our fundamental principle for everyone to attain better, affordable and standard physical and mental health without discrimination or barriers, ” he added.
In like manner, he said the 100 – Bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital and the 43-Bed Cottage Hospital built in Ogoni are others efforts that align with the focus of the theme on leveraging scientific collaboration, evidence-based action, and the “One Health” approach to protect human, animal, and environmental health.
HYPREP assured: “It is our conviction that the various efforts and initiatives taken will achieve expected results, and therefore, appeal to all citizens to take advantage of the health services and supports provided by HYPREP and other health institutions in the area, take their health serious, and live a healthy life”.
It further emphasized that while the initiatives are aimed at tackling modern health challenges through innovation and science-led solutions, there is the need for effective collaborative actions between various health institutions in tackling prevalent health issues in the communities. HYPREP said it is essentially the time to rebuild trust in scientific evidence, combat misinformation, address the interconnected health of people, animals, plants, and ecosystems, as well as mobilizing governments and partners to turn scientific evidence into policy action.
HYPREP further commended paramount rulers of Ogoni kingdom, men, women, and the youths for being receptive to the ongoing study and committed to participating actively in the HYPREP- funded health assessment.
The statement added that, “HYPREP will not rest on its oars in strengthening health services and institutions, building capacity amongst local health professionals, and providing data – driven recommendations for public health management in the region”, stressing that the “study findings will inform policy interventions, public health planning, and long-term monitoring”.
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