Delta Govt. Approves Construction, Renovation Of Additional 41 PHCs, Eboka Reveals, Lauds Oborevwori

Delta Govt. Approves Construction, Renovation Of Additional 41 PHCs, Eboka Reveals, Lauds Oborevwori 

  

By Magnus Emuji

The Delta State Government has approved the construction and renovation of  additional 41 Primary Healthcare Centres across the state in a bid to strengthen healthcare service delivery, the Delta State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has said.

The Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the Agency, Dr. Charles Eboka, disclosed this in his office in Asaba during an advocacy visit by representatives of a Civil Society Organization on Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN)  led by the State Coordinator, Pastor Gregory Sifo.

While commending the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sherrif Oborevwori for his efforts in enhancing healthcare delivery at the grassroots, Eboka stated that the construction and renovation work  had commenced.

Responding to concerns raised by ACOMIN, Eboka said that solar power challenges at some PHCs, including Obior PHC in Aniocha South, Oviri-Olomu PHC in Ughelli South, Emede PHC in Isoko South, and Omulo PHC in Isoko South, would be addressed. 

He assured the team that the Agency would do everything possible to ensure the solar systems are repaired.

Eboka further stated that Basic Healthcare Facilities facing security challenges, particularly the lack of security personnel, would be addressed. 

He said the facilities would be incorporated into a business plan to enable the Agency to resolve their security issues more effectively.

Earlier, the State Programme Officer of ACOMIN, Sir Austin Uwede, said inadequate power supply, especially non-functional solar power, had been affecting healthcare delivery in the facilities.

Uwede also informed the Agency that drugs supplied to some selected facilities by MTN were not meant for PHCs but for secondary health institutions. He added that some PHCs experience flooding whenever there is heavy rainfall.

Recalling visits to Okpara-Inland and Orhokpor PHCs in Ethiope East Local Government Area, Uwede emphasized the importance of having health record officers in every facility.

At the office of the Director of Personnel Management, Delta State Local Government Service Commission, Mr. John Akwakwa, Pastor Sifo said ACOMIN was still implementing its programme in the state. He noted that the visit was to ascertain the Commission’s efforts toward recruiting healthcare workers.

The State Programme Officer cited an incident at Koko PHC where a Matron was seen mopping the floor after overseeing a child delivery, due to inadequate staffing.

He said that a few local government councils, including Isoko South, Ika South, and Warri South, had absorbed ad-hoc healthcare workers.

In his remarks, Mr. Akwakwa said the Local Government Service Commission was concerned about the recurring issue of inadequate healthcare workers at various facilities. He clarified that some local governments that were ready to recruit, particularly nurses, had written to the Commission seeking approv