The Chairman of the Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Health and Member representing Isoko South Constituency II, Hon. (Chief) Ferguson Onwo, PhD, KSC, has inspected healthcare facilities in Umeh and Olomoro communities as part of efforts to improve healthcare delivery across his constituency.
The inspection tour, which covered the ongoing construction of the Umeh Primary Health Centre and the Olomoro General Hospital in Isoko South Local Government Area, was aimed at identifying critical infrastructure and operational needs requiring government intervention.
Speaking during the visits, Hon. Onwo commended Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for prioritising healthcare development and expanding access to quality medical services across the state.
According to the lawmaker, the exercise formed part of his oversight responsibilities as Chairman of the House Committee on Health and was intended to assess the condition of health facilities firsthand to facilitate timely intervention where necessary.
His first stop was the agrarian Umeh community, where he inspected the ongoing construction of the Umeh Primary Health Centre. Onwo, who is the Othuke of Umeh Kingdom, described the project as a significant step towards improving access to quality healthcare for residents.
Contractors handling the project assured the lawmaker that construction would be completed within the next few months.
Following the inspection, Hon. Onwo paid a courtesy visit to the Regent of Umeh Kingdom, HRM Rockson Meshach Owhe, the Azano of Umeh Kingdom, whom he praised for promoting peace, unity, and stability in the community.
He stressed that sustainable development can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace and cooperation, while reaffirming his commitment to delivering effective representation and attracting more developmental projects to the constituency.
Community members expressed appreciation for the lawmaker’s leadership and commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure, urging him to facilitate the timely execution of more projects to improve residents’ quality of life.
The inspection team later proceeded to Olomoro General Hospital, where Hon. Onwo applauded the Oborevwori administration’s investments in healthcare infrastructure across Delta State.
Accompanied by the Member representing Isoko Nationality on the Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Chief Victor Egbo, the President-General of Olomoro Kingdom, Chief Anthony Ukpagba, and other community leaders, the delegation was received by the Hospital Administrator, Mr. Ukpuru Udoji.
The administrator conducted the visitors around key departments, including the male and female wards, operating theatre, labour ward, doctors’ quarters and nurses’ quarters, while highlighting critical areas requiring urgent government attention.
Speaking after the tour, Hon. Onwo noted that Olomoro General Hospital, which was formerly an extension of Eku Baptist Hospital before being taken over by the Delta State Government, remains a vital healthcare facility serving Olomoro and neighbouring communities.
While expressing satisfaction with the quality of healthcare services being provided, he observed that the hospital requires further upgrading to meet the increasing healthcare needs of the growing population.
He explained that the visit was designed to obtain firsthand information on the facility’s operational challenges and infrastructure needs to support appropriate government intervention.
Also speaking, Chief Victor Egbo assured residents that DESOPADEC, with the backing of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, would complement the state government’s efforts by upgrading critical infrastructure at the hospital.
According to him, plans are underway to renovate the dilapidated doctors’ and nurses’ quarters, rehabilitate the records centre, landscape the hospital environment, and procure a new transformer to guarantee a stable electricity supply.
Egbo added that work on the identified projects would commence before the commencement of electioneering campaigns.
In their separate remarks, the President-General of Olomoro Kingdom, Chief Anthony Ukpagba, Hospital Administrator Mr. Ukpuru Udoji, and other stakeholders commended the Delta State Government and the visiting delegation for their commitment to improving healthcare services in the area.
Chief Ukpagba disclosed that some requests earlier presented by the community had already received government approval, including the provision of an ambulance and the deployment of two medical doctors to strengthen healthcare delivery at the hospital.
He also commended Hon. Ferguson Onwo, the Okpobrisi of Olomoro, and Chief Victor Egbo for undertaking the inspection visit and demonstrating their commitment to the welfare of the people.
Among those who accompanied the lawmaker were Councillors Harrison Oheri and Nero Umeh of Olomoro Ward, former President-General of Olomoro Community, Chief Blessing Agboro, Chief Kingsley Karo, Chief Joe Amiri, Chief Charles Alakpa, his legislative aide, and other community leaders.
