By Smart Azubuike
Following the recent rain storm that destroyed and damaged both public and private property across Rivers State on Monday, May7, 2018, the director of Military Hospital, Port Harcourt, Major Kolapo Salawu, has appealed to relevant authorities in the country to come to the aid of the hospital.
Major Salawu made this appeal after conducting newsmen round to see the degree of damage done by the rain storm that affected buildings and offices of the hospital.
According to him, the “Monday rain storm affected some of our buildings and offices, the administrative block was mostly affected. Therefore, we are appealing to the relevant authorities to assist us. We are looking for help from anywhere.”
He hinted that as soon as the natural disaster occurred, the management of the hospital reached out for help.
“We have reached out to NEMA and their representative who came in and saw the havoc and said he would contact Abuja and get back to us. We are also trying to make en route to NDDC,” Major Salawu added.
The director stated that since the Nigerian Army inherited the premises from Shell (SPDC) they had never experienced this level of destruction and losses, noting that the one that occurred at the premises five years ago was not as severe as this.
The former head of Nigerian Army Medical Corps Abuja FCT, stated that there was no how the management of the hospital was going to fell all the trees at the hospital because they serve several purposes and offer benefits.
On the level of the havoc and losses they suffered compared to other residents of Port Harcourt was happy the wards were spared: “I think we are exceptionally lucky. Thank God it did not get to the male and female wards.” The storm caused massive havoc in the state and a huge setback to PHC as multitude of poles were uprooted and destroyed while many houses were completely de-roofed.
Areas affected at the hospital are the fence of the hospital, the roof of the ambulance car park, mortuary section, laundry section and dental and eye clinic sections.
Others are the medical stores and the administrative block as well as three cars which were damaged by branches of the trees that fell on top of the cars packed under the trees at hospital premises.
