The destruction of their sources of livelihood by the activities of the multinational oil companies has generated concern for the protection of the environment. The physical health of the people, particularly the women, has deteriorated. Exposure to gas flares and contaminated water has caused health problems. Ogoni people eat fish from poisoned streams. Most do not have the resources to pay for health care and medicine, and even for those who do, there is not a single fully equipped government hospital in Ogoni.
Women frequently die at child birth or give birth to premature babies.
The lack of diagnostic medical laboratories in Ogoni prohibits us from knowing the extent of health problems caused by oil pollution. The discovery of oil in the Delta has set our people back, especially the women, who often lack a basic education to address the problems caused by oil pollution.