Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has explained that the sum of N100 million was disbursed to the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, while another N100 million would be released in the next couple of weeks to boost medical tourism of the state.

The governor dropped the hint  in Asaba while fielding questions from Journalists during a media interactive session.

“We are giving a grant of N100 million to the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DESUTH), Oghara to enable them put it in a more favourable state,” the governor said, stating that his administration was not relenting in the funding of the health sector.

“We commissioned the Abavo hospital and the one in Ogidigben where work was suspended, work has resumed and we are also doing renovation work in Bomadi hospital and Agbor Central hospital; the Delta State Health Contributory Commission is fully established and key personnel have been appointed and as at today we have commenced registration and rendering of services to our pregnant women and children under 5 in our various secondary health institutions,” the governor said. He further disclosed that “as at today, we have registered over 4,312 pregnant women and 8,546 children and are assessing treatment through the health Commission.”

The governor  reiterated that, “the ICT (information communication technology) platform is also being put in place for the health commission for its efficiency; the school of Nursing which looks very basic is also very important, and for the first time, we have a law acknowledging the school of Nursing and Midwifery. It will be one of the prerequisite needed for the final accreditation of schools of Nursing and Midwifery. It may interest you to know that we have operated for over 20 years without the law; and it is a thing of joy that we now have a law establishing the school of nursing and midwifery and it is our hope that within the year, we will be able to have full accreditation and registration for the schools.”

Governor Okowa disclosed that in his administration’s commitment to partnering with the private sector, “the Ministry of Health has entered into an MoU with the Novena University. They want to use our facilities for their medical school and this is because we are open to partnership with the private sector. We are doing that to enhance the possibilities of our children being able to access medical schools.