The Delta State Government has authorized a budget allocation of approximately N3 billion for the procurement of 60 operational equipment units to be distributed among 20 general hospitals across the state. This initiative aims to enhance the state’s healthcare services, aligning with the M.O.R.E development agenda of the Oborevwori administration.
Additionally, the government has approved N2 billion for compensating property owners affected by the ongoing construction of flyover bridges and roads in the Warri Uvwie areas of the state.
Dr Ifeanyi M. Osuoza, the State Commissioner for Information, disclosed these decisions following the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting chaired by Governor Sherrif Oborevwori at the Government House in Asaba, yesterday. The EXCO also greenlit the procurement of medical equipment for Phase Two implementation across 20 general hospitals in the state.
The hospitals included in the list are: Obiaruku, Abraka, Ekpan, Owa-Alero, Okwe, Koko, Orerokpe, Otu-Jeremi, Brutu, Abavo, Owa-Oyibu, Issele-Uku, Ashaka, Kiagbodo, and Eku Baptist Government Hospital.
Accompanied bt the Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverside Roads), Mr. Charles Aniagwu; his counterpart in Higher Education, Prof. Nyerovwo Tonukari; the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme; and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Festus Ahon, it was noted that the compensation would cover infrastructural projects from Enerhen Junction to First Marine Gate in Warri South Local Government Area.
Osuoza also revealed that the meeting approved an upward review of contracts for procuring medical equipment in 20 general hospitals in Delta State.
He said:
“There is an upward variation of the contract for the remodeling of the uncompleted library building of the basic clinical building for the College of Health Sciences, Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area.
“There is also approval of compensation for building that will be affected by the construction of the flyover bridge from Enerhen Junction, Effurun to Marine Gate, Warri,” straddling Uwvie and Warri South local government areas.
The council has given its approval for a bursary payment totaling more than N674,000,000 to students from its region for the academic session of 2022?2023. This assistance, known as the Students Assistance Scheme or Bursary, aims to alleviate the challenges currently experienced by students. Mr. Aniagwu, the Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverside Roads), emphasized the intention behind this gesture.
Aniagwu said: On the hardship in the land, the reason the Governor is very much interested in this is because when parents are looking for money, they need the money to take care of their children, pay school fees and provide basic necessities.
“As a government, we believe that if we are able to give some funds to these students, then that way we have also been able to help their parents. Any student that you make this money available to now, at least, for that month and maybe the next, will not ask his or her parents for money to buy one book or feed.
“So, if we are able to reach out to as many as over 30,100 students of Delta State Origin, you will know the number of households the government has been able to reach out to through this form of palliative. As an administration, you will notice a number of things we have mentioned here that we are doing in the health sector. It is also with a view to ensuring that our people have access to medical facilities and that they are able to reach out.
Once we are able to put the hospitals in good shape and they are functional, it means that the funds that are available to you, even when we did not give it to you by cash, that as a government, we have also provided in that area. All the steps being taken by the Obprevwori-led administration is with a view to making life much more livable for our people.
That we are ensuring that you have good roads, for students have schools to go to, that our people have good hospitals and conversion of more schools to universities to ensure that our people have access to more higher education; all of them is to make life much more livable.”
Aniagwu, addressing the gully erosion affecting parts of the state capital, mentioned that the government is actively working to address the challenges posed by the 1.8km gully erosion site on Marble Hill Road, affecting Vanguard, NNPC, Asaba, and other areas statewide. Regarding healthcare, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, the Commissioner for Health, disclosed that over N3 billion has been allocated for the equipment of 20 General Hospitals across the state. He also confirmed a standing approval for the immediate replacement of essential workers lost to braindrain, emphasizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding the health of Deltans.
The State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerovwo Tonukari, said over N674 million would be paid to 30,116 students of the state origin drawn from 195 institutions across the country for the 2022/2023 bursary, adding that processes for the payment of 2023/2024 has also begun.