The Pilgrim Baptist Hospital, Issele-uku is one of the oldest hospitals in the Western region of Nigeria, built by the Reverend Dr. Samuel Wadiel Martin of blessed memory in 1964.
The developmental strides of Rev. Dr. Martin, his life and the abandonment of his legacies is one that elicits tears in the eyes of those who saw or heard the wonderful work done by this God- sent man, to uplift man and develop his environment.
Rev. Martin, who was an epitome of humility and service, saw a great need to bring the light of God, unprecedented infrastructural and human capital development to a people that were wallowing in abject poverty and diseases as a result of high level of illiteracy and superstition.
Rev. Dr. Martin knew the importance of good health care in the service of God and humanity, hence the establishment of a hospital, clinics and maternities across the old mid-western region. This efforts in health care increased life expectancy of the people to an appreciable level.
The Pilgrim Baptist hospital, Issele-uku was a Centre of excellence where people from far and wide came to be made whole through medical intervention. In the whole of mid-western region, now Delta and Edo States, it was the pilgrim Baptist hospital Issele-uku and Eku Baptist hospital, Eku that people ran to for proper medical treatment.
Unfortunately, but according to divine arrangement, Rev. Martin had no child of his own biologically but has many children that he trained both in Nigeria and in America. His mind was that he was training and building a generation of godly people that would fill the gap when he was no more, but that was not to be.
The problem with man all over the world is that when they climb the ladder of success, some forget those who brought them to limelight. The same plays out in some societies, where they forget individuals that made their communities to see the light of God and development.
Immediately Rev. Martin departed this world, the legacies he left behind began to decay as people became interested in only what they could benefit without contributing to further improve on the foundation and legacy already led.
The hospital became a conduct pipe for people to enrich themselves to the Chagrin of the greater majority of people, who hitherto were benefiting from the work done by Martin. After taken the milk and honey from the hospital and other establishments, they were abandoned and left desolate. The hospital was most affected. In fact, the hospital that was once the glory of the people became a shadow of itself where reptiles and other bush animals celebrate birthdays and burial ceremonies.
Anytime people with conscience see the sight of a once high rated medical facility, they shed tears and pray God to raise a man that would resuscitate the hospital and resurrect the spirit of Rev. Martin.
To the glory of God, forty two years (42) after the death of Martin, a Messiah came in the person of Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and resurrected Dr. S. W. Martin. It was on Saturday April 14, 2018 at the founder’s day celebration and award ceremony organized by the Pilgrim Baptist Association, Anioma Delta Baptist Conference.
Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa brought life to Martin and revived his legacies after many years of abandonment by people trained as disciples and entrusted with the light of evangelism and development. Senator Okowa donated the sum of 20 million naira for the rehabilitation of the hospital and another twenty million for the rehabilitation of the school built after government took all the schools built by Rev. Dr.SW Martin.
Rehabilitation work commenced immediately at the hospital and the committee headed by a philanthropist and a business magnet, Prince Edwin Ibe Ozoma left no stone unturned to ensure that the fund was judiciously utilized.
Prince Ozoma bluntly told members of the committee to see their appointment as a call to service and sacrifice, adding that no part of the money would be used for frivolities.
When the committee made up of Deacon D. O Mordi, Pastor Emy Ugbaja, Rev Okoh, the late Mr. Parker Okafor and Comrade Kingsley Azuh, visited the hospital to access the level of decay, they could not believe the level of dilapidation that the structures have gone. They had to make use of cutlass to be able to go through the premises. In spite of their clearing of the bushes to be able to wander through, they were still greeted by snakes, other reptiles and animals that use the wards, theatre and other offices as their beautiful homes, where they give birth, feed their young ones and even bury their dead. This is evident from the rotten carcass of animals. Some must have been killed in inter animal tribal wars in the fight to determine who takes a particular hospital ward or theatre.
The hospital was cleared of the weed that covered the buildings. Some of the unwanted trees were cut down. The administrative block and Ogbemudia ward went through serious rehabilitation.
Having done appreciatable rehabilitation work, the committee headed by Prince Ibe Ozoma reopen the hospital.
History was actually made at Issele Uku when the hospital was re-opened for medical services after more than 20 years of abandonment.
Today, the hospital is thriving and still wishing that others will toe the steps of our former Governor, Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, who brought glory back to the hospital