By Jumai Nwachukwu
Chairman, Delta State Hospitals Management Board (HMB), Dr Paul Oweh has assured healthcare workers that the state government is making concerted efforts to address the shortage of personnel in government hospitals across the state, even as he expressed satisfaction with compliance with government policies on free maternal and child healthcare services.
Dr. Oweh made this known during an ongoing monitoring and supervisory visit to several health facilities, including Government Hospital, Aviara, Cottage Hospital, Uzere and Central Hospital, Ughelli, where he assessed staff performance, service delivery and adherence to key health policies of the state government.
Speaking during the visit, the Board Chairman explained that the exercise was part of routine oversight aimed at ensuring that hospitals under the board maintain the expected standards of care while complying with government programmes such as free maternal healthcare and free treatment for children under- five years.
According to him, the monitoring visits also help the board detect and address operational challenges within the health system.
“We continued our routine supervisory visits to hospitals across the state to assess how our staff are performing and to ensure compliance with key government policies, particularly the free maternal healthcare programme and free treatment for children under five years,” he said.
Dr. Oweh noted that the visits also serve as a mechanism to curb extortion and other irregularities that may occur within healthcare facilities.
“The goals of these visits are very clear. They help us monitor operations and check issues such as extortion and other irregularities that may arise in the system. From what we have seen so far, I am quite satisfied despite the challenges,” he added.
The chairman, however, identified shortage of staff as one of the major issues affecting service delivery in many hospitals, noting that the situation is particularly evident at Central Hospital Ughelli, where a high patient turnout places significant pressure on the available workforce.
“We have seen a very large volume of patients here, which clearly shows that more personnel are needed,” he said.
Dr. Oweh disclosed that he has received assurances from the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, that approval for additional employment would soon be granted to help address the manpower gap in the health sector.
Responding to concerns raised by some medical doctors about remuneration, Dr. Oweh acknowledged that dissatisfaction with salary remains one of the reasons the board struggles to attract and retain doctors. He explained, however, that salary adjustments are beyond the powers of the Hospitals Management Board but assured health workers that he would continue to engage the government at higher levels and communicate the concerns to the governor.
Oweh also expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the state’s free healthcare policy, noting that patients in several wards confirmed they were not charged for services.
Dr. Oweh advised healthcare workers across the state to remain committed to their duties.
He commended staff members who demonstrated dedication and professionalism while warning that corrective measures and sanctions would be applied where serious lapses are identified.
Also speaking, the Zonal Medical Director of Central Hospital Ughelli, Dr. (Mrs.) Christiana Omoni commended the monitoring exercise and reiterated the need for more healthcare workers in the state.
Meanwhile, pregnant women and nursing mothers at the hospital applauded Governor Oborevwori for his commitment to ensuring that all pregnant women and children under five receive quality healthcare services in the state.
