IN a move that would brighten the prospect of Deltans in the areas of healthcare, Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme recently assured that the state government will further overhaul and upgrade healthcare centres across the state this year. Dr. Onojaeme disclosed this while speaking on the giant strides recorded by the Ministry of Health in 2025, during a briefing at his office in Asaba. He said the decision of the state government to upgrade the centres was in recognition of the critical role of healthcare services in human existence.
Delta state currently has 441 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) spread across the three senatorial districts and out of this number, 150 were upgraded in the outgone year. Expectedly, more health centres will be attended to this year because of the premium the Oborevwori administration placed on the health and wellbeing of Deltans, the commissioner explained.
This is a welcome development and the decision, no doubt, is quite commendable because one of the cardinal objectives of governance anywhere in the world is to institutionalise a robust healthcare system that will holistically address the healthcare need of the populace.
It is important to note that the Oborevwori administration had demonstrated patriotic commitment to strengthening the health sector since it came on board in 2023. The administration had procured world-class medical equipment for secondary health facilities across the state, a development which had enhanced medical tourism and significantly reduced the cost of critical medical services, particularly dialysis. For instance, in Delta the cost of dialysis in government-owned hospitals has been reduced from N70,000 to N45,000 in government hospitals.
Again, it is absolutely gratifying to note that the State Executive Council (EXCO) approved the procurement of three Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines to serve the three senatorial districts. These are high-grade machines that would be installed at the Central Hospital, Warri; Asaba Specialist Hospital, Asaba; and the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara.
In the contemporary Nigerian society, there is no denying the fact that there is disturbing shortage of healthcare personnel in some medical facilities majorly caused by the ‘japa’ syndrome and Delta State, being part of Nigeria, is not in anyway, insulated from this enormous problem as the state shares part of this challenges.
Considering the important of healthy population in productivity and increased Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the state government is already addressing the issue by taken appropriate and proactive steps to recruit eminently qualified health workers to fill gaps created by retirement, death, or voluntary exit. This also is welcome.
In the area of maternal health, available statistics indicate that the state is doing well as maternal mortality and under-five mortality rates have reduced significantly, following the various reforms in the health sector of the state. It is also worthy to note that it (the state government) had sustained routine immunization programmes to prevent outbreak of diseases. The state government deserves kudos for all these impressive records.
In the days of late Nigerian paediatrician, public‑health specialist, and former Minister of Health under General Ibrahim Babangida, between 1985 to 1992, Prof. Olikoye Ransome‑Kuti healthcare centres in the country functioned effectively well. The government introduced Nigeria’s first comprehensive national health policy, emphasizing primary health care, nationwide child‑immunisation, oral rehydration therapy and early HIV/AIDS awareness.
The current move by Delta will definitely match the gains, if not surpassing, of the Federal government at the time and guarantee a healthy population across the State.
We, therefore, call on Deltans and residents of the state to take advantage of the improved medical facilities across the state by going for routine medical check-ups. We, also, urge them to maintain healthy lifestyle as a way of preventing deadly diseases. Besides, they should support the state government in its drive to ensure affordable health care services and ensure protection of revamped health facilities in their domain
Basically, we implore other sub-national governments in the country to emulate the Delta example by re-jigging their healthcare architecture in line with contemporary global trends in healthcare management with a view to enhancing their operational efficiency as it was in the days of late Prof. Olikoye Ransome‑Kuti.
