The Delta State Executive Council (EXCO) has approved a raft of health sector projects, including the procurement of medical equipment for newly completed hospitals, the establishment of specialised treatment units and the upgrade of critical healthcare facilities aimed at improving access to quality medical services across the state.
Speaking to journalists after the EXCO meeting chaired by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, said the approvals demonstrate the administration’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery and expanding access to specialised medical services for residents.
Onojaeme disclosed that the Mother and Child Hospital in Ekpan, whose construction began in 2011, has been completed. He said the council approved the procurement of medical equipment needed to make the facility fully operational, paving the way for its inauguration in the coming weeks.
He added that the completion of the Ekpan facility, alongside the Mother and Child Hospitals in Owa-Alero and the Central Hospital, Warri, marks a significant boost to maternal and child healthcare services in the state.
The commissioner also announced that EXCO approved the ceding of Central Hospital, Kwale, as the take-off site for the proposed Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences Teaching Hospital.
According to him, the teaching hospital will enhance medical education, provide specialised healthcare services and create employment opportunities for doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and other support staff.
He noted that the proposed institution would also position Delta State to benefit from the Federal Government’s plan to establish oncology centres in federal teaching hospitals across the country, expanding access to advanced cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Onojaeme described the proposed facility as the state’s first federal university teaching hospital, saying it would bring highly specialised healthcare services closer to the people.
He further revealed that following a comprehensive assessment of healthcare facilities statewide, the Executive Council approved the procurement of modern medical equipment for public hospitals and the establishment of additional specialised medical departments.
Among the key approvals is the upgrade and equipping of the state’s Public Health Laboratory to enable it conduct advanced diagnostic tests for infectious diseases such as Ebola and other public health emergencies without relying on laboratories outside the state.
The commissioner recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, samples had to be transported to laboratories in Edo State and Abuja for analysis, describing the laboratory upgrade as a major step towards improving the state’s emergency response capacity.
To strengthen mental healthcare, EXCO also approved the establishment and equipping of neuropsychiatric units in selected hospitals to address the growing burden of mental health disorders and substance abuse.
In addition, the council approved the establishment of oncology services, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy facilities, to improve cancer treatment within the state.
Onojaeme noted that many cancer patients currently travel to Lagos and other parts of Nigeria for treatment, often spending weeks away from home. He said the new oncology facilities would make specialised cancer care more accessible, reduce treatment costs and improve patient outcomes.
He reaffirmed that the approvals reflect Governor Oborevwori’s commitment to building a resilient healthcare system that provides residents with world-class medical services without the need to seek treatment outside Delta State.
