By Sunday Apah
The Delta State Government has announced plans to continue the renovation and enhancement of health centres throughout the state in 2026, acknowledging the vital importance of healthcare to the wellbeing of its citizens.
Health Commissioner Dr. Joseph Onojaeme made this known on Monday during a briefing at his Asaba office, where he highlighted the significant progress achieved by the Ministry of Health in 2025.
Dr. Onojaeme stated that Delta currently operates 441 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) distributed across its three senatorial zones, adding that 150 of these centres were upgraded over the past year.
“Out of the 441 primary health centres across the state’s three senatorial districts, we successfully renovated 150 in 2025. We will continue these efforts into 2026 to improve even more facilities,” he said.
He credited these advancements to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration, which remains committed to strengthening the healthcare sector.
He further revealed that top-tier medical equipment has been acquired for secondary health institutions state-wide.
According to Dr. Onojaeme, the introduction of modern medical devices has substantially lowered the cost of essential treatments, including dialysis.
“The administration under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has procured advanced medical equipment for our secondary healthcare centres, which has reduced dialysis fees in government hospitals from N70,000 to N45,000,” the commissioner noted.
He also announced that the State Executive Council (EXCO) approved the purchase of three Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines to serve each senatorial district.
“EXCO has sanctioned the acquisition of MRI machines for Central Hospital in Warri, Asaba Specialist Hospital, and Delta State University Teaching Hospital in Oghara.
“These are state-of-the-art machines that many states lack. We anticipate receiving them in the first quarter of next year,” he added.
Addressing the shortage of healthcare personnel, Dr. Onojaeme explained that the government had recruited qualified staff to replace those lost due to retirement, death, or voluntary resignation.
“To address human resource gaps caused by retirements, deaths, or resignations, the state has employed new health workers to fill these vacancies,” he said.
The commissioner assured that all ongoing healthcare projects would continue to receive attention in 2026 and warned contractors to comply strictly with approved quality standards.
“All current projects in the health sector will be prioritized next year. Contractors must meet the required specifications or face serious penalties,” he emphasized.
Highlighting the effects of recent health sector reforms, Dr. Onojaeme reported a significant decline in maternal and under-five mortality rates, alongside sustained immunisation efforts to prevent disease outbreaks.
“Thanks to these reforms, maternal and under-five mortality rates have dropped considerably. We have also maintained routine immunisation programmes to prevent epidemics,” he said.
He pointed out that the reforms extend beyond infrastructure improvements to include enhanced welfare for healthcare workers.
“Our efforts are not limited to upgrading facilities and equipment; we are also investing in human resources. Approximately six weeks ago, revised remuneration packages were approved, and payments were made two weeks ago.
“Doctors now earn between N500,000 and N1.8 million monthly. This improved pay demonstrates our commitment to the welfare of health workers,” he explained.
Finally, Dr. Onojaeme encouraged residents of Delta State to utilize the improved healthcare services by attending regular medical check-ups and adopting healthy lifestyles to prevent serious illnesses.
“Routine medical examinations and healthy living are essential to controlling fatal diseases. We urge all Deltans to make these practices part of their daily lives,” he concluded.
