Eboka Reaffirms Delta Govt. Commitment To Boost Healthcare System, Tasks LG On Recruitment

By Magnus Emuji

Delta State Government has reiterated its determination to boost the healthcare service delivery system by ensuring that all Public Healthcare Centres (PHCs) are working effectively, urging chairmen of the various Local Government Areas in the state to prioritize the recruitment of health workers, especially Nurses.

The Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the Delta State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Charles Eboka made the call in his office in Asaba when the State chairman of Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN), Pastor Gregory Sifo, accompanied by the State Programme Officer of ACOMIN, Sir Austin Uwede, and other members paid him an advocacy visit.

Eboka disclosed that Ndokwa West Local Governmet had employed 35 nurses and 12 other health workers, while Bomadi also recruited 58 health workers including 17 nurses , 16 CHEWS, and one pharmacist as well as 11 health assistants among other personnel.

While commending the chairmen of Ndokwa West and Bomadi local government areas for their initiative, Eboka implored other LGA chairmen to emulate the gesture in a bid to ensure seamless healthcare service delivery at the various PHCs in the State.

Eboka also REVEALED that 156 PHCs across the state had been approved to be enrolled into the Basic Health Scheme, in addition to the 246 Public Healthcare facilities that had been enrolled in the state, there by upscaling the numbers to 402 PHCs.

Meanwhile, the ACOMIN team led by its chairman, Pastor Gregory Sifo also visited the newly appointed Director of Nursing Services, Delta State Local Government Service Commission, Mrs. Patricia Enafoma.

Speaking during the visit, Pastor Sifo told the Director to always draw the attention of the chairman during their management meetings on the need to recruit more nurses and health workers.

He said that the essence of the visit was to get first hand information on how the commission had gone concerning their request for the recruitment of health workers for the PHCs.

Sifo , who stated that shortage of nurses and other health workers that would have taken care of the health care needs of the overwhelming number of patients, is impacting negatively on health service delivery, he emphasized the need to carry out more medical outreaches in the communities to enlighten the people on their health status.

In his remarks, the State Programme Officer, Sir Austin Uwede explained that ACOMIN is working in 10 local government areas in the state namely; Ndokwa West, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Aniocha South, Aniocha North , Sapele, Okpe and Warri South among other LGAs.

Uwede noted that ACOMIN activities were selected facilities, adding that the programme is community driven.

The SPO said that the major challenge facing the healthcare delivery in the state was the lack of sufficient manpower to replace the retired nurses and other health workers, just as he appealed to the state government to intervene.