Oborevwori Boosts Healthcare With MRI, CT Scanners, Employs Over 700 Workers — Ahon

THE Delta State Government has intensified investment in healthcare with the acquisition of advanced diagnostic equipment, including MRI machines, CT scanners and 4D ultrasound machines, as well as the employment of more than 700 health workers.

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Sir Festus Ahon, disclosed this during an interview on Independent Radio FM 92.3, Benin, where he highlighted the administration’s interventions in the health sector.

Ahon said the investments were part of efforts to improve access to specialised healthcare and reduce the need for residents to travel outside Delta State or abroad for medical treatment.

He said the administration had placed significant emphasis on healthcare alongside its investments in roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

According to Ahon, Delta State now has three MRI machines using 1.5 Tesla helium-free technology, with one located in each senatorial district.

He identified the locations as Asaba Specialist Hospital, Central Hospital, Warri, and the state’s teaching hospital in Oghara.

“For the first time in the history of Delta State, we now have three MRI machines of 1.5 Tesla helium-free technology, one in each senatorial district,” Ahon said.

He added that the machines were functioning and were expected to reduce the burden on residents requiring specialised diagnostic services.

The Chief Press Secretary also disclosed that the government had provided three CT scan machines, as well as other modern radiology and laboratory equipment, to strengthen specialist healthcare delivery in major hospitals across the state.

Ahon said the government had also procured eight dialysis machines, with three each located in Asaba and Warri and two at the teaching hospital in Oghara.

He further disclosed that 25 units of 4D ultrasound scanners had been procured and distributed to general hospitals across the state’s 25 local government areas.

“We also have 25 units of 4D ultrasound scanners distributed across our general hospitals in the state. You know we have 25 local government areas, so we distributed them to the general hospitals in each of the local governments,” he said.

According to him, the distribution was aimed at bringing advanced diagnostic services closer to residents and reducing the need for patients to travel outside the state for specialised diagnosis.

On affordable healthcare, Ahon said the Oborevwori administration had sustained free medical treatment for children aged zero to five years.

He also said the state’s contributory health insurance scheme had been expanded, with more than three million people enrolled.

According to Ahon, the beneficiaries include 10,000 widows who receive healthcare coverage and monthly stipends of N15,000 from the state government.

“We have free healthcare for children from zero to five years. Apart from that, we also have a health insurance scheme. Today, we have over three million health enrollees, including 10,000 widows who are receiving free healthcare,” he said.

“These widows are also collecting monthly stipends of N15,000 from the state government to support their welfare.”

Ahon further disclosed that Governor Oborevwori had approved the employment of more than 700 healthcare workers to address manpower shortages and improve service delivery in public health institutions.

He said the governor had also directed that doctors and nurses who leave the state health service should be replaced immediately to prevent manpower gaps.

“Because of his commitment to the health sector, the governor recently employed over 700 health workers. Apart from that, he equally gave a standing order that if, for any reason, any doctor or nurse ‘japa’, he or she should be replaced immediately. There is no room for a vacuum,” Ahon said.

The Chief Press Secretary said the state government had also introduced special tax-free monthly allowances of N200,000 for doctors and N100,000 for health officers.

He said the incentives were intended to motivate healthcare professionals and discourage the migration of medical personnel.

“To encourage our doctors, the governor introduced more special allowances: N200,000 tax-free monthly for doctors and N100,000 tax-free monthly for health officers,” he said.

Ahon also disclosed that the state government had established a new College of Health Technology at Ovrode in Isoko North Local Government Area to train middle-level healthcare professionals.

He identified the establishment of a College of Medicine at Southern Delta University, Ozoro, as another intervention aimed at expanding medical education and developing the state’s healthcare workforce.

“We have also established a brand-new College of Health Technology at Ovrode, Isoko North, to train middle-level health workers. We also have the College of Medicine built at Southern Delta University, Ozoro,” he said.

Ahon maintained that the various interventions were consistent with Governor Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda, which prioritises healthcare infrastructure, access to medical services and the development of skilled healthcare personnel across Delta State.