Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba
Delta State Government has approved the sum about N3 billion for acquisition of 60 working equipment in 20 general hospitals across the state, saying it was to boost the state healthcare programme in line with the M.O.R.E development agenda of the Oborevwori administration.
In the same vein, the government also announced approval of N2 billion for compensation to property owners that would be affected by the ongoing construction of flyover bridges and roads in the Warri and Uvwie area in the state.
Intimating newsmen with some outcomes of the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting presided over by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori at the Government House Asaba, yesterday, the State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi M. Osuoza, said that the EXCO also approved Phase Two procurement of medical equipment for 20 general hospitals across the state.
He listed the hospitals to include general hospitals at Obiaruku, Abraka, Ekpan, Owa-Alero, Okwe, Koko, Orerokpe, Otu-Jeremi, Burutu, Abavo, Owa-Oyibu, Issele-Uku, Ibusa, Aviara, Onicha-Olona, Ofagbe, Aboh, Ashaka, Kiagbodo and Eku Baptist Government Hospital.
Flanked by the Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverside Roads), Mr. Charles Aniagwu; his Higher Education counterpart, Prof. Nyerovwo Tonukari; the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Festus Ahon, noted that the compensation would cover the infrastructural projects being executed between Enerhen Junction to First Marine Gate in Warri South Local Government Area.
Osuoza dsclosed that the meeting also approved upward review of contracts for the procurement of medical equipment in 20 general hospitals in Delta State.
He said: “There is an upward variation of the contract for the remodeling of the uncompleted library building of the basic clinical building for the College of Health Sciences, Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area.
“There is also approval of compensation for buildings that will be affected by the construction of the flyover bridge from Enerhen Junction, Effurun to Marine Gate, Warri,” straddling Uwvie and Warri South local government areas.
The council also approved payment of over N674,000,000 as bursary to students of its origin for the 2022/2023 academic session under the Students Assistance Scheme, otherwise called bursary.
On the bursary payment, the Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverside Roads), Mr. Aniagwu further said that the gesture was meant to cushion the current hardship faced by students.
Aniagwu said: “On the hardship in the land, the reason the Governor is very much interested in this is because when parents are looking for money, they need the money to take care of their children, pay school fees and provide basic necessities.
“As a government, we believe that if we are able to give some funds to these students, then that way we have also been able to help their parents.
“Any student that you make this money available to now, at least, for that month and maybe the next, will not ask his or her parents for money to buy one book or feed.
“So, if we are able to reach out to as many as over 30,100 students of Delta State origin, you will know the number of households the government has been able to reach out to through this form of palliative.
“As an administration, you will notice a number of things we have mentioned here that we are doing in the health sector. It is also with a view to ensuring that our people have access to medical facilities and that they are able to reach out.
“Once we are able to put the hospitals in good shape and they are functional, it means that the funds that are available to you, even when we did not give it to you by cash, that as a government, we have also provided in that area.
“All the steps being taken by the Oborevwori-led administration is with a view to making life much more livable for our people.
“That we are ensuring that you have good roads, for students have schools to go to, that our people have good hospitals and conversion of more schools to universities to ensure that our people have access to more higher education; all of them is to make life much more livable.”
On gully erosion ravaging parts of the state capital, Aniagwu, said the state government was working on addressing the challenges posed by the 1.8km meters gully erosion site on the Marble Hill Road to Vanguard and NNPC, Asaba, and other sites across the state.
On his part, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, said that over N3 billion was approved for the equipment of 20 General Hospitals across the state.
He also said there is a standing approval for immediate replacement of essential workers lost to brain drain, adding that the state government was committed to ensuring the health of Deltans.
The State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerovwo Tonukari, said over N674 million would be paid to 30,116 students of the state origin drawn from 195 institutions across the country for the 2022/2023 bursary, adding that processes for the payment of 2023/2024 has also begun.
