By Andrew Ikehi
Banking on its M.O.R.E agenda, the Delta State Government says it is committed to giving the State Health sector some facelifts.
This, according to the State Government, would bother largely on infrastructure and human capital development.
The Chairman, Hospitals Management Board (HMB), Dr. Paul Oweh dropped the hint at the weekend after a week-long tour across the various hospitals in the State with a strong assurance that the State Government is poised at mitigating the current challenge confronting the various hospitals.
Joined by the Permanent Secretary in the Board, Dr. Paul Okubor and, the Chairman, Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Austin Obidi, alongside other top management of the board, the HMB boss, particularly disclosed that plans are already at its zenith for massive employment of health workers in the State aimed at bridging the gap in the shortage of manpower.
While saying that shortage of manpower was the major complaints in all the hospitals visited across the 25 local government areas of the State, Dr. Oweh, however, posited that the State government has proactively factored it into the 2024 budget, stressing that “very soon, there would be massive employment of health workers in the State to mitigate the challenge across board.
He said, “My impression is that we are doing well, but we can do better. I can say that authoritatively because, I have been here before. I know what it was then and, with what I have seen, there has been tremendous improvement.
“Across the various hospitals visited, their greatest challenge is shortage of staff across board. This has to do with Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, Laboratory Scientists, etc.
“We have assured them that the State government is looking it and, hopefully, there are good signs that very soon, we will be able to carry out massive employment to mitigate the challenges across board
“I can tell you this authoritatively because, provision has been made for it. During our budget presentation, the State Government graciously reviewed upward what we anticipated. So, there is already budgetary provision for it” Dr. Oweh assured.
Meanwhile, the HMB boss, enjoined health workers in the State to scale up their productive services in line with the provisions and tenets of the global health rules, warning that the board would not hesitate to apply sanctions on any erring individual, group or institution.
He enjoined Deltans to keep hope alive and patronise the State government hospitals for their health care needs, adding that the administration of Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori is irrevocably committed to ensuring robust health care delivery as enshrined in the M.O.R.E agenda of the State.
He listed the hospitals visited to include; Agbor Medical Zone, Bomadi medical zone, Eku medical zone, Okwe, Oleh, Sapele, Ughelli and Warri medical zones
