17 communities face healthcare crisis in Edo as Sabongidda Ora General Hospital rot away
Residents of more than 17 communities in Edo State are facing extreme difficulties accessing healthcare as the General Hospital in Sabongida Ora, deteriorates.
The hospital, which serves as a major healthcare facility for communities in Owan West Local Government Area of the state, is grappling with severe structural challenges, including a badly damaged roof and sections of the building exposed to the elements.
Residents expressed concern that the deteriorating infrastructure could undermine the ability of health workers to provide safe and effective medical services, particularly during emergencies.
A large opening in the roof has reportedly left parts of the facility exposed to rainfall, raising concerns over the safety and suitability of the environment for patients, healthcare workers and medical equipment.
For residents who depend on the hospital, the situation could have serious consequences, particularly for patients requiring urgent medical attention.
Pregnant women, children, elderly people and other vulnerable residents may have to seek treatment outside the community when services are unavailable or when the condition of the facility makes it difficult to provide adequate care.
Some residents who spoke to BusinessDay said the deteriorating state of the hospital was particularly troubling because of the number of communities that rely on it for basic and emergency healthcare services.
They called on the Edo State Government to urgently rehabilitate the facility, repair the damaged roof, restore essential infrastructure and ensure that the hospital has the equipment and other requirements needed to provide functional healthcare.
Public records indicate that Edo State received about N116.89 billion in gross allocation from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between January and June 2026, while a further N28.36 billion was reportedly received in July.
Residents argue that improving basic healthcare infrastructure should be among the priorities for public resources, particularly in communities where government hospitals provide the first point of care for large rural populations.
They stressed that their demand was not for luxury infrastructure, but for a safe and functional hospital capable of providing basic medical services and responding to emergencies.
The residents therefore called on Governor Monday Okpebholo to visit the Sabongidda Ora General Hospital and assess its condition, urging the government to move beyond assurances and undertake immediate rehabilitation of the facility.
