The Delta State Government has pushed back against claims that it is more interested in flashy infrastructure than grassroots healthcare, insisting that primary healthcare remains a core focus of the Oborevwori administration’s development strategy.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, made this known while reacting to recent remarks by popular health influencer, Aproko Doctor, who suggested on social media that Nigerian politicians often prioritise flyovers and ultra-modern hospitals while neglecting primary healthcare centres. Onojaeme said such claims do not reflect the reality in Delta State.
According to him, while road projects and flyovers are highly visible symbols of development, healthcare has continued to receive sustained and deliberate attention under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
He disclosed that within two years, the administration has renovated 150 primary healthcare centres across the three senatorial districts, out of the state’s 441 health facilities. He added that another 150 centres are currently being scoped for renovation, a move that will raise the total number of upgraded primary healthcare centres to 300.
Onojaeme explained that the expansion is designed to improve access to quality healthcare at the community level, reduce congestion at general and tertiary hospitals, and bring essential services closer to residents, particularly in rural areas.
The commissioner noted that the state’s free maternal and under-five healthcare programme has continued to deliver measurable results, including a steady decline in maternal and infant mortality. He said the programme has also eased the financial burden on families, especially low-income households.
He revealed that Governor Oborevwori recently approved the release of ₦2 billion to sustain the initiative, alongside consistent funding to strengthen Universal Health Coverage across the state.
On hospital management, Onojaeme said state-owned hospitals now enjoy full autonomy to retain and utilise 100 per cent of their internally generated revenue. This, he explained, has enabled hospitals to procure drugs promptly, maintain critical equipment, and respond faster to patients’ needs.
He also highlighted improvements in specialised care, noting that dialysis machines have been installed and inaugurated across several state hospitals. According to him, this has significantly reduced waiting times for patients and lowered the cost of dialysis from about ₦70,000 to ₦45,000 per session.
Onojaeme further disclosed that CT scan machines installed at Warri Central Hospital and the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, are already enhancing the speed and accuracy of diagnosis for cancer, stroke, and internal injuries. Newly procured echocardiography machines, he added, are strengthening early detection and treatment of heart-related conditions.
To deepen access to advanced diagnostics, the commissioner said the state government has ordered three MRI machines for installation at Asaba Specialist Hospital, Central Hospital Warri, and DELSUTH Oghara. This, he noted, will ensure that all three senatorial districts have access to high-end medical imaging.
He said delivery of the MRI machines is expected by April, with site preparations already underway, adding that Delta State is among the few states making such a significant investment in diagnostic healthcare at once.
Beyond infrastructure and equipment, Onojaeme disclosed that the government is establishing a new College of Health Sciences at Ovrode in Isoko North Local Government Area. He said the institution will complement the existing college at Ofuoma and boost the training of middle-level health manpower needed to sustain the health sector.
He added that the long-abandoned Mother and Child Hospital in Ekpan is nearing completion, while another Specialist Hospital is under development in Osubi, Okpe Local Government Area, modelled after the Asaba Specialist Hospital.
According to him, Delta State remains the only state in the country with more than 60 functional, government-owned hospitals, a figure he said reflects years of sustained investment in healthcare delivery.
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On health insurance, the commissioner highlighted the progress of the Delta State Contributory Health Scheme, revealing that enrollment had surpassed 2.78 million residents as of January 2026. He said the scheme is currently the leading state-supported health insurance programme in Nigeria.
Onojaeme explained that the scheme covers both formal and informal sector workers and gives priority to vulnerable groups through the Equity Health Plan, including pregnant women, children under five, and the elderly. He added that recent expansion efforts include the enrollment of 10,000 widows and the ongoing registration of indigent residents across the state.
To improve efficiency and transparency, he said the Delta State Contributory Health Commission has introduced facial recognition technology at accredited healthcare facilities.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Oborevwori administration to achieving Universal Health Coverage, stressing that the government remains focused on delivering affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare to all residents of Delta State.
