The Delta State Government has clarified that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s approval of a large-scale recruitment drive in the health sector is part of a broader strategy to address workforce shortages, enhance service delivery, and counter the effects of medical personnel migration.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, made this known on Tuesday during an inspection visit to the Delta State College of Health Technology in Ovrode. He was accompanied by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu.
Onojaeme explained that the recruitment of several hundred medical and non-medical staff was necessitated by critical manpower gaps, particularly as the state continues to expand its healthcare infrastructure.
He noted that key projects approaching completion—including a radiotherapy centre and a mental health facility—will require specialised professionals such as radiographers and interventional radiographers, who are currently in short supply.
According to the commissioner, the extent of the shortage became evident during a recent recruitment exercise, where only two applicants turned up to fill about ten available positions for interventional radiographers.
“This highlights the urgent need to build local capacity through institutions like the College of Health Technology, Ovrode,” he said.
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Onojaeme further stated that additional personnel would be needed to effectively operate newly upgraded and completed health facilities across the state, including the Mother and Child Hospital in Ekpan and the Central Hospital in Otor-Oro.
He also pointed to the ongoing migration of healthcare professionals—commonly referred to as the “Japa syndrome”—as a major contributor to staffing challenges, noting that the trend is affecting not just Delta State but the entire country.
Despite this, he said the government is implementing measures to improve staff retention, including annual financial support for resident doctors to enhance their training and professional development.
Speaking in the same vein, Aniagwu said the establishment and operationalisation of the College of Health Technology, Ovrode, is a key component of the state’s long-term plan to develop a sustainable healthcare workforce.
He disclosed that while nearly 700 health workers have already been approved for employment, sustained investment in training remains essential to meet the demands of the state’s expanding health facilities.
Aniagwu added that the institution would serve multiple purposes—providing education, creating employment opportunities, and helping to bridge workforce gaps caused by migration.
He reaffirmed that the Oborevwori administration is committed to strengthening the health sector through targeted investments in infrastructure, human capital development, and improved welfare policies aimed at delivering quality healthcare services to residents.
