BY FESTUS AHON
When the Delta State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) visited Government House, Asaba, on Tuesday morning, its message was clear: healthcare delivery in the state is witnessing a new dawn under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Led by its Chairman, Dr. Israel Adaigho, the NMA commended the Governor for his sustained investments in healthcare infrastructure, manpower development, and policy initiatives, which it said are effectively reshaping the sector.
Dr. Adaigho outlined what he described as “massive achievements” across the state’s health system. These include improvements in primary healthcare, the expansion of the Contributory Health Scheme, enhanced maternal and child healthcare through mobile clinics, and the strengthening of health institutions statewide.
He cited landmark projects such as the College of Health Technology, Ovrode; the College of Medical Sciences at Southern Delta University, Ozoro; and the College of Nursing, Onicha-Uku.
According to him, more than 150 primary healthcare centreshave been renovated across the state, while hospitals are now equipped with modern facilities, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines and 25 units of 4D ultrasound scanners.
Delta has also set the pace in medical training by paying the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) ahead of the Federal Government.
For the NMA, this is a bold statement about the Governor’s priorities. “We have seen a leader who is not only committed to building hospitals but also ensuring that they are functional and staffed with well-trained personnel,” Dr. Adaigho noted.
Beyond healthcare, the NMA also appreciated the administration’s broader infrastructural strides, including the completion of the dualisation of the Ughelli–Asaba Road, the construction of flyovers in Effurun and Warri, and clearing the backlog of pensions for retirees.
The Governor’s policies have also earned him national recognition. The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), during its own courtesy visit, presented him with an Award of Excellence.
NARD’s National President, Dr. Tope Osundara, praised Oborevwori for being the first governor in Nigeria to fully pay the 2025 MRTF for resident doctors.
“The essence of this fund is to equip resident doctors with the knowledge and resources needed to excel in their examinations and training. When they return, they come back with quality, and the people benefit from quality healthcare. Many states are still grappling with how to pay, but Delta has already done it,” Dr. Osundara said excitedly.
He also commended the state for granting tax rebates to doctors, paying acculturation allowances, and equipping hospitals with CT scanners and MRIs. “Lagos, with all its glory, has not done up to what I have seen and heard about in Delta,” he said.
Governor Oborevwori, in his responses to both the NMA and NARD, was characteristically humbled yet firm, about his vision. He acknowledged the sacrifices of doctors who continue to serve in Nigeria despite more lucrative offers abroad. “It is better for our doctors to work in Nigeria and earn their respect than to go abroad and become medical assistants,” he said, stressing that his administration would continue to provide world-class equipment to ensure they excel locally.
The Governor listed recent interventions, including the provision of eight new dialysis machines distributed across Asaba, Warri, and DELSUTH, Oghara, as well as MRI machines for each senatorial district.
Oborevwori reassured NARD of the government’s commitment to addressing accommodation challenges at DELSUTH. “Funding is not the problem; it is contractor compliance we are monitoring,” he clarified.
Importantly, he appealed to resident doctors to exempt Delta from their planned nationwide warning strike: “We are among the first three states to fully pay medical residents. We are also the first to pay all resident doctors irrespective of their place of assignment. We have held up our part of the bargain.”
The Governor’s healthcare vision is not limited to state projects. He has also thrown his weight behind the take-off of the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Kwale. Hosting the institution’s Governing Council led by Pro-Chancellor Dr. SalisuBanye, Oborevwori described the university as a “legacy project” that could expand access to medical education and strengthen healthcare delivery.
His administration has already approved the use of the General Hospital, Kwale, as the temporary teaching hospital and has extended electricity supply to the campus. He promised further support, including a 30-seater bus for the institution. “We are the only state in Nigeria with four state-owned universities, all of which are thriving. With this new federal university, more opportunities will be created for our children,” he said, recalling how his tenure as Speaker of the State House of Assembly saw the expansion of admission spaces across tertiary educational institutions through the establishment of three new State owned universities.”
Dr. Banye praised the Governor’s foresight, noting that the provision of classrooms, laboratories, offices, and 200 hectares of land for the permanent site reflect “passion for infrastructure, quality education, and healthcare.” He expressed confidence that with sustained support, the university would become a national model.
The Governor’s healthcare agenda is rooted in a broader governance philosophy that prioritises inclusiveness, infrastructural renewal, and social welfare. His commitment to clearing pension backlogs, constructing roads and flyovers, and expanding access to higher education reflects a holistic vision of development.
This outlook was also evident at an enlarged meeting with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, where Governor Oborevwori underscored the importance of voter registration and political participation. For him, progress must go hand in hand with democratic consolidation.
Observers note that Delta’s healthcare sector is entering a new phase, where modern equipment, improved training, and new institutions are converging to create a system comparable to global standards. The endorsements of the NMA and NARD are particularly significant. Professional bodies are rarely generous with praise, especially in a sector beset by strikes and funding challenges nationwide. That they singled out Delta, analysts say, speaks volumes about the Governor’s achievements so far.
Still, as bothOborevwori and his guests acknowledged, sustaining the momentum will require continuous investment, better welfare for health workers, and stronger collaboration between state and federal institutions. For now, however, the outlook remains positive. As Dr. Osundara of NARD remarked: “For a state-owned hospital to have these facilities, Your Excellency, you deserve to be praised.”
The NMA’s verdict was equally unequivocal: the future of healthcare in Delta State looks bright. With Oborevwori’s resolve to match vision with action, the state may well be charting a path for others to follow.
