The Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojame, on 3rd January 2024 resumed office following the Yuletide celebrations, at the Ministry of Health in Asaba.
In a brief chat with journalists, He expressed gratitude to God Almighty for his grace and mercies on him and the staff of the ministry in ushering everyone into the new year.
He also appreciated the staff for their dedication to duty and their unwavering commitment to the M.O.R.E Agenda of His Excellency Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori.
However, he noted that “there is much work to be done in the health sector this year, and I am here to pilot the team to action so that we can continue delivering the M.O.R.E agenda with respect to health care services through this Ministry.”
Sheriff Oborevwori, the executive Governor of Delta state is very concerned about improving the quality of health care delivery to Deltans and will stop at nothing to provide premium health facilities and services to Deltans.
“The Governor has consistently reiterated that His M.O.R.E Agenda is not a political slogan, but a social contract with Deltans, to listen and do MORE,” he said.
He said that in line with His Excellency’s vision of putting the economy of the Delta State on the path of sustainable growth for this year 2024, they intend to build more modern health facilities to support existing ones as well as upgrade the existing facilities to meet the demands of present-day health challenges.
“We are also going to engage in recruitment exercise to inject more health workers into the system to meet the rising demands of health care needs in the state.
“To ensure that there is uninterrupted flow in our service delivery, we are entering a long-term maintenance MOU with the equipment manufacturers to keep the machines up and running 24 hours, this will build the confidence of Deltans to rely on Delta state health care services in the state,” he added.
“As part of our 2024 implementation plan, We will ensure that healthcare service delivery gets to every part of the state, including the hard-to-reach rural and riverine communities, by providing incentives for our health workers assigned to those health facilities in the interior.
“This is in addition to upgrading existing facilities to enable them handle the challenges of health care delivery.
“We will employ every strategy available to us, to ensure that His Excellency’s MORE Agenda under the Health Ministry gets to all Deltans regardless of their location and political affiliation in the state,” Onojame said.
Onojame recognized the efforts of the state epidemiological team in reducing the scourge of communicable diseases and promised to further strengthen them.
He also noted that the World Health Organization’s (WHO) special report on Non-communicable diseases (NCD) estimated a loss of over $7 trillion as a result of non-communicable diseases, with Low and medium-income countries (LMIC) accounting for 75 percent of the mortality and Disability-adjusted life years (DALY).
The commissioner reiterates that the ministry intends to place focus on attaining the global targets for NCD while strengthening the gains that have been achieved on communicable diseases.
In his remarks, he noted that the ministry will be placing a lot of focus on NCD especially cardiovascular and renal diseases.
The honourable commissioner disclosed that renal disease is a leading cause of mortality with an increasing rate of 42 percent over the last two decades and the state ministry of health is worried about the statistics.
“Kidney disease alone accounts for 10% of all the persons coming to the hospital in our state, also more worrying is the astronomical increasing numbers of young viable individuals capable of driving the economy, developing chronic kidney disease and requiring dialysis.”
He said that the state government under the leadership of His Excellency, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, will explore all available options to ensure that the kidney disease trajectory is reversed through the provision of quality, sustainable, innovative reusable technology and affordable renal replacement services and make Delta State the hub of medical tourism in West Africa and beyond.
Onojame said “We are consolidating on the gains of the past administration and taking health care delivery to the next pedestal in the state, that is placing Deltans first and putting quality ahead in accordance to world standard health care practices.
“His Excellency my principal is known for quality projects, and he will not settle for anything less than the best quality for Deltans.
“He is very passionate about delivering the dividends of democracy laced with good and excellent healthcare for the people. He believes that only healthy people can build a thriving economy.
“I am particularly grateful to His Excellency Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, who has graciously appointed me to serve Deltans in this capacity, a gesture I hold in high esteem and will never take for granted.
“I want to use this opportunity to encourage the management and staff of the Ministry of Health to brace up for the task ahead of us, God helping us we will do our best to implement the MORE Agenda of His Excellency effectively and efficiently.”
SOURCE: Vanguard
