Oborevwori Government Strengthens Grassroots Healthcare With Upgrade Of 41 PHCs
By AMANDA EZE
THE Delta State Government has strengthened grassroots healthcare delivery by upgrading 41 Primary Health Centres to Level-2 standards. The facilities have received modern medical equipment and independent solar power systems designed to support uninterrupted services.
Through the intervention, the government hopes to improve access to healthcare in rural communities and strengthen services for mothers and children. It also seeks to equip frontline health workers to handle medical emergencies more effectively.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, announced the development during the official handover ceremony in Asaba on Monday. He said the project forms part of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s healthcare revitalisation drive under the MORE Agenda.
Represented by Dr. Charles Eboka, Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics at the Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency, the commissioner said the centres received more than 27 categories of medical and surgical equipment.
Among the supplies are delivery beds, gynaecological examination beds, foetal Dopplers, suction machines, surgical instrument sets, oxygen cylinders, nebulisers, adult beds and drug cabinets.
Beyond the medical supplies, the government has addressed one of the major challenges facing many rural health facilities: unreliable electricity. Each upgraded centre now has an off-grid solar installation featuring a 5KVA inverter, 10KWH lithium-ion batteries, MPPT charge controllers and 600-watt solar panels. A 9.3KVA generator also provides additional electricity support.
Onojaeme said the improved infrastructure would enable health workers to conduct safer deliveries, respond to emergencies and strengthen disease surveillance. He also expressed confidence that better-equipped facilities would help reduce preventable maternal and infant deaths.
However, the government says the investment must deliver lasting benefits. To ensure accountability, it has introduced formal equipment handover records and routine monitoring visits. These measures are intended to promote proper use, maintenance and protection of the supplied equipment.
The upgrade also complements Delta’s free healthcare programme for pregnant women, children below five years and senior citizens.
Health workers in the benefiting communities have welcomed the development. Mrs. Violet Aruegbe, Officer-in-Charge of Iduumuje-Ugboko Primary Healthcare Centre in Aniocha North Local Government Area, said the solar system would ease the facility’s electricity difficulties. In particular, she noted that staff could now conduct deliveries at night and attend to emergencies more promptly. Nevertheless, she urged the government to provide a dedicated borehole.
At Aradhe in Isoko North Local Government Area, Mrs. Queen Orogun, a Community Health Extension Worker II, also praised the supply of functional medical equipment. She said the intervention would improve service delivery and patient care in rural areas.
Likewise, Mrs. Roseline Umukoro, Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer for Ethiope East Local Government Area, highlighted the benefits for public health monitoring. According to her, the upgraded centres would improve disease surveillance, strengthen emergency response and support better health outcomes for local communities.
